N.J. DEP Increases Beach Closures to 15, Including A.C.

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Elevated bacteria levels have caused the Department of Environmental Protection to close 15 beaches in New Jersey, including Atlantic City beaches. 

The concerning conditions were announced earlier this week. On Wednesday, the DEP issued three beach closures (all in Toms River in North Jersey) and 31 water advisories. As of Thursday morning, the closures increased in number (instead affecting Atlantic and Ocean counties) and the water quality advisories decreased to four (in Monmouth and Ocean counties).

The beach closures are due to potentially dangerous levels of Enterococci bacteria, likely the result of heavy rain that caused sewage and pollution runoff to flow into streams feeding into rivers and bays.

The N.J. State Sanitary Code maintains that concentrations of bacteria should not exceed 104 colonies of Enterococci per 100 milliliters of sample. Beach closures are issued when two consecutive bacteria samples exceed the state standard, while beach advisories are issued when initial samples exceed the state standard.

The N.J. DEP has closed the following beaches:

Water quality advisories have been issued at the following beaches:

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