New Jersey crews and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are racing against Mother Nature to rebuild vulnerable beach communities battered by recent storms and coastal erosion. FOX Weather Correspondent Katie Byrne has an inside look at the intense operation:
THE TAKEAWAY
- Several Atlantic City beaches are under swimming advisories.
- Elevated bacteria levels triggered the warnings.
- Daily testing will determine when the advisories are lifted.
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – It’s not the first time tourists visiting Atlantic City have run into bad luck.
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) issued health advisories for 10 beaches in Atlantic City along the Jersey Shore for elevated levels of fecal bacteria on Aug. 18.
People are seen at the beach with Atlantic City in the background.
(Alexi Rosenfeld/Getty Images / Getty Images)
States Avenue Beach tested 320 CFU of enterococci per 100 ML of ocean water, more than three times the state threshold for enterococcus – the summer ruining, beach-closing bacteria that lives in the intestinal tracts of warm-blooded animals, including humans, and is commonly found in fecal matter.
WHAT IS THE FECAL BACTERIA ENTEROCOCCI AND WHY DOES IT IMPACT BEACHES?
Thankfully, half the country wasn’t under a swimming advisory — it just sounds that way. 10 Atlantic City beaches were flagged, including Connecticut, Iowa, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas and Virginia avenues, in addition to States Avenue.
Enterococci can be found in wastewater treatment plant outflow, leaking septic systems, stormwater runoff, domestic animal and wildlife waste, improper land application of manure or sewage and runoff from manure storage areas, pastures, rangelands and feedlots, the Environmental Protecation Agency said.
Scanning electron micrograph of enterococci.
(Lisac Mark, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service / FOX Weather)
The advisories were still in effect as of Wednesday, and it’s best to heed the warnings, because if you put it all on the line and take a swim, you may walk away with more than you bargained for.
BRAIN-EATING AMOEBA DETECTED IN WATER AT ICONIC US NATIONAL PARKS, STUDY FINDS
New Jersey allows no more than 104 CFU of enterococci per 100 mL of marine water before triggering a swimming advisory – swimming in water that exceeds the standard carries an increased risk of illnesses, including gastroenteritis, low-grade fevers and infections, according to the New Jersey Environmental Protection Agency.
People sit on the beach during sunset in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
(Alexi Rosenfeld/Getty Images / Getty Images)
So, if you were betting on a perfect summer beach day, headlined by some fun in the ocean, hopefully you didn’t wager the keys to the castle.
As part of the NJDEP’s water quality monitoring program, the affected beaches will be tested daily until the water quality meets the state standard and the advisories can be lifted.
SEE IT: MASSIVE, PREHISTORIC DISCOVERY FOUND BY FAMILY SEARCHING FOR SEASHELLS ON THE JERSEY SHORE
Atlantic City didn’t cash out with nothing. Several beaches remain free of advisories after testing within acceptable levels — so if you’re visiting the Las Vegas of the East, there’s still plenty of room to enjoy the ocean without gambling with your health.
