Why Shore Beaches Close After Heavy Rain

Three New Jersey beaches were temporarily closed this week after water testing found elevated levels of fecal bacteria, a situation that often raises concern among beachgoers but is actually far more common than many realize.

The beaches affected were located in Highlands, Belmar, and Sea Girt, where the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) detected high levels of enterococcus bacteria following several days of heavy rain.

While hearing the words "fecal bacteria" sounds alarming, these types of beach advisories are actually routine occurrences after major storms. Understanding what's happening can help put these closures in perspective.

The Rain Connection

The answer starts with rain. When our region experiences heavy downpours, millions of gallons of water rush off roads, parking lots, neighborhoods, farms, parks, and yards before eventually making their way into nearby streams, rivers, bays, and ultimately the ocean. Along the way, that runoff collects everything in its path.

That includes animal waste from dogs, Canada geese, seagulls, ducks, and deer. Fertilizers, oils, trash, and other pollutants are also swept into the stormwater system.

Many people assume these warnings mean raw sewage is pouring directly into the ocean. While sewage overflows can happen during extreme weather events in some communities, they're not usually the primary reason for these beach advisories. Most of the bacteria detected after storms comes from stormwater runoff carrying waste from both urban areas and wildlife habitats.

Storm Drains Play a Major Role

Unlike sanitary sewer systems, storm drains generally do not send water to a treatment plant. Instead, they're designed to move rainwater away from neighborhoods as quickly as possible to prevent flooding. That water is discharged directly into nearby creeks, rivers, back bays, or the Atlantic Ocean.

That's why when you see a storm drain, it typically has a logo or sticker on it that says something like "drains into the ocean."

After a large storm, those drainage systems can carry significant amounts of bacteria into the water, temporarily increasing contamination levels.

What This Means for Cape May County

Here in Cape May County, the same process happens every time we receive heavy rainfall. Whether it's Wildwood, North Wildwood, Wildwood Crest, Cape May, Stone Harbor, Avalon, Sea Isle City, or Ocean City, runoff eventually flows into our back bays and the Atlantic. That's why local beach advisories are much more likely to occur after several inches of rain than during long stretches of dry weather.

The Good News: Closures Are Usually Short-Lived

New Jersey routinely tests water quality at public beaches throughout the summer. Scientists collect water samples and measure bacteria levels, including enterococcus, which serves as an indicator that contamination may be present. It doesn't necessarily mean the bacteria itself will make you sick, but elevated levels suggest the water could contain organisms capable of causing stomach issues, skin infections, ear infections, or eye irritation.

Once additional testing confirms bacteria levels have fallen below state health standards, beaches are reopened.

So if you've ever wondered why beaches sometimes close immediately after a storm but reopen a day or two later, it's because the contamination is usually temporary. These closures are a precautionary measure to protect our community's health during the brief period when bacteria levels are elevated.