Swimming Advisories Issued at 12 Jersey Shore Beaches

Beachgoers planning to take a dip at certain Jersey Shore locations should be aware that swimming advisories are now in effect at a dozen ocean beaches following water quality testing that revealed elevated bacteria levels.

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection issued the advisories after water samples exceeded the state's threshold for enterococci bacteria, which serves as an indicator of potential contamination from human or animal waste.

Ten of the affected beaches are located in Atlantic City within Atlantic County: Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina, Iowa Avenue, Pennsylvania, States, Connecticut Avenue, Missouri, Virginia Avenue, and Mississippi Avenue. Two additional beaches under advisory are in Long Branch within Monmouth County: Elberon Beach Club and Laird.

The advisories were triggered when initial water samples showed enterococci levels exceeding New Jersey's standard of 104 colonies per 100 milliliters of water. While this indicates potentially unhealthy water conditions, it's important to note that an advisory does not mean the beaches are closed.

Under state beach-monitoring regulations, a swimming advisory is posted after one elevated test result as a precautionary measure while additional water samples are collected and analyzed. A beach is only closed to swimming if two consecutive samples both exceed the state standard.

Our community members planning beach visits are encouraged to check the New Jersey Beach Actions dashboard before entering the water. The online resource provides real-time updates on beach conditions and any changes to advisory or closure status as new test results become available.

The state's Cooperative Coastal Monitoring Program conducts regular water quality testing throughout the summer season to protect public health at New Jersey's beaches.