Public health

NJ beach bacteria: The Shore can’t dodge NYC’s sewage

The Asbury Park Press analyzed nearly 4,000 water quality tests performed at New Jersey beaches this summer. Here are the five beaches that failed bacteria tests most often. Russ Zimmer

Flare-ups of bacteria connected to human and animal feces have long plagued certain beaches on the Jersey Shore, threatening to sicken swimmers and scare away tourism dollars. State officials believe New Jersey has fixed some trouble spots ahead of the 2018 season while acknowledging that the overarching problem still exists.

Rain continues to be the best indicator of whether it’s safe for you and your family to swim at Jersey Shore beaches. Experts generally suggest avoiding contact with the water for 24 to 48 hours — longer for river and bay beaches — after a heavy rain.

Storm runoff is believed to be the conduit through which fecal bacteria makes its way from land to water. You can see the Jersey Shore beaches that exceed the safe-swimming threshold most often in 2017 in the video […]

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