Safe for swimming: NJ bacteria advisories lifted at 6 Jersey Shore beaches

Six beaches have been declared safe for swimming on Wednesday, after initially testing high for fecal bacteria contamination earlier this week.

The latest test results showed that bacteria counts fell back under New Jersey's safe swimming standards at beaches in Long Branch, Deal, Pine Beach, Seaside Heights, Barnegat Light and Lavallette, which were under swim advisories on Tuesday.

On Monday, each of the six beaches had levels of Enterococci, a bacteria common in the intestines of humans and animals, that exceeded the state's safe swimming standard.

Retesting by health officials on Tuesday showed the bacteria levels had dropped back to levels considered safe for swimming. Results of Tuesday's tests were not available until Wednesday afternoon.

The beaches are:

• Deal's Roosevelt Avenue Beach.
• Long Branch's Elberon Beach Club.
• Lavallette's Brooklyn Avenue bayside beach.
• Seaside Height's Hancock Avenue bayside beach.
• Pine Beach's East Beach at Station Avenue.
• Barnegat Light's 25th Street bayfront beach.

High bacteria levels are often the result of leaky sewer and septic systems or pet and wildlife waste washing into lakes and rivers.

Water woes: Six Jersey Shore beaches under water advisories for high bacteria levels

Exposure to contaminated water can lead to gastrointestinal distress as well as ear, nose and throat infections. Young children, elderly adults and people with weakened immune systems are particularly at risk from illness after contact with bacteria-rich water.

In Ocean County, Manchester's Harry Wright Lake high beach remains closed, as it has since late July, due to high levels of Enterococci bacteria. The lower end of Harry Wright Lake remains under a water advisory for high bacteria levels.

Beachwood's beach was closed for the duration of the summer, after repeated tests showed high levels of fecal bacteria.

Amanda Oglesby is an Ocean County native who covers education and the environment. She has worked for the Press for more than 16 years. Reach her at @OglesbyAPP, aoglesby@gannettnj.com or 732-557-5701.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Safe for swimming: NJ bacteria advisories lifted at 6 Jersey Shore beaches