Water Reports

Indicator Organisms

Enterococcus: This is a bacteria that is found in the intestines of warm-blooded animals. The standards for the amount of enterococcus that is allowed in a sample of salt water is 104 colonies per 100 ml water. If a sample exceeds the standard, the beach is re-sampled immediately. If the re-sample is within the standard the beach is allowed to remain open. If the re-sample exceeds the standard; the owners of the beach area are notified to close the beach to swimming and bathing. The beach will be re-sampled every day until the sample falls under the standard, then the bathing area may re-open.

E. Coli Coliform: This is also a bacteria that is found in the intestines of warm-blooded animals. The standard for the amount of E. Coli coliform that is allowed in a sample of fresh water is 320 colonies per 100ml of water. Sampling and resampling procedures are the same as for enterococcus.

Not all beaches may have lifeguards. Please swim only at beaches, which are open with lifeguards. Contact Municipal Offices to find out which beaches are open with lifeguards. Water quality updates can be found on this site, or heard on the Ocean County Health Department Bathing Beach Hotline.

The Ocean County Health Department recommends against swimming for at least 24 hours after a rainfall event at all bay, lake, river and creek bathing beaches. Please check with the municipality for up to the minute status after a rain event.