Officials at Beachwood Beach have decided to ban swimming for visitors for the remainder of the summer after four weeks of high fecal content in the water.
Ocean County Health Department officials released a statement to describe their decision, writing “For the safety, health and welfare of the residents and others, the Mayor and Council have decided to close swimming at the beach for the remainder of the 2024 season due to the Ocean County Health Department reporting of excessive bacteria levels found in the water.”
While residents and visitors can take in the atmosphere, they will not be allowed in the water. This decision does not come without much discussion.
Beachwood Beach, which rests on Toms River, has struggled with water quality issues for several years now, as there have been many instances where high levels of Enterococci bacteria were present. Water samples have previously surpassed the standard 104 colonies per 100 millimeters of sampled water, with readings as high as 1,160 colonies. When the number of colonies exceeds this measure, advisories and bans on swimming must be enforced.
According to the NJDEP, Beachwood Beach recorded high levels of bacteria for the weeks of June 24, July 1, July 8, and July 15. The NJDEP website monitors the bacteria readings, noting that the week of July 24 recorded 400 colonies and a swimming advisory. The week of July 1 presented 130 colonies, but the number fell to 110 colonies the next day. A swimming ban was issued at this time. July 4 saw a rise in colonies, with the number growing to 250, leaving families unable to relax and swim in the water. The number grew the next day, so the ban remained in effect for the Fourth of July weekend celebrations.
From July 7-July 8, the number of colonies stayed between 110 and 190, respectively, leading to another ban.
On Monday, July 15, there were 200 colonies present, and just two days later, the sample showed 1,160 colonies, one of the highest recorded.
Enterococci bacteria can enter the water from various sources, including stormwater runoff, sewage emptied from recreational boats, and domestic animal and wildlife waste. Swimming contaminated water may cause various illnesses, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, sore throat, runny nose, earaches skin rashes and flu-like symptoms.
Beachwood Beach was previously named the dirtiest beach in New Jersey in 2020, as reported by Environmental New Jersey. Their study, which looked at beaches and their fecal bacteria levels in 29 states and Puerto Rico, found that Beachwood Beach, along with 385 others, were dangerous to swim in for at least 25 percent of the days that the testing took place.
