The NJ Department of Environmental Protection found elevated levels of fecal bacteria at 10 beaches during recent testing of the ocean water.

Swimming advisories are in effect for five of the beaches. The other five have not yet opened for the season.

The areas with high levels of bacteria are the beaches at New Jersey Ave. in Somers Point; 10th & JFK in North Wildwood; 2nd and JFK in North Wildwood; Montgomery in Wildwood and Pavilion Beach at Monmouth Beach.

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The beaches that have not opened for the season are Beesley's Point in Upper Township; Community Center Beach in Highlands; Thompson Avenue in Middletown; Anglesea Avenue in Ocean Gate and Wildwood Avenue in Ocean Gate.

The testing on Monday found the concentration of bacteria exceeded the acceptable standard of 104 colonies of Enterococci bacteria per 100 milliliters of sample. The bacteria is found in human and animal waste.

More testing was expected on Wednesday.


According to the NJ DEP, swimming in or contact with polluted water can cause gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain, respiratory symptoms like sore throat, cough, runny nose, and sneezing, eye and ear symptoms including irritation, earache, and itchiness, dermatological symptoms like skin rash and itching, and flu-like symptoms such as fever and chills.