New Jersey beach report: Where is it safe to swim?

A New Jersey beach in Gloucester County is under a swim advisory due to high levels of bacteria, according to the state Department of Environmental Protection.

Pet and wildlife waste, stormwater outflow pipes, as well as leaky sewer and septic systems are all common causes of water pollution. The state environmental agency monitors bacteria levels at more than 400 beaches and swimming sites around New Jersey each summer.

The department issued the swim advisory on June 10 at Monroe’s Timber Lakes Beach in Gloucester County, where levels of E. coli were double New Jersey’s safe swimming standard.

That same day, the environmental department lifted an earlier advisory on swimming at North Wildwood’s beach near 2nd Avenue and John F. Kennedy Beach Drive. Bacterial levels of enterococcus that exceeded safe swim standards on June 8 had returned to low levels by June 9, according to a second round of water tests shared by the department. Test results were not available until June 10.

Both enterococcus and E. coli are types of bacteria found in the intestines and feces of humans and animals. The microbes are used as indicator species to help health experts determine if other illness-cause viruses, parasites and other pathogens are likely present in water.

People with weakened immune systems, elderly adults and young children are most likely to become ill from swimming in contaminated water. The most common symptoms of swimming-related illnesses are diarrhea, skin rashes, flu-like symptoms, eye or lung irritation and ear infections, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Amanda Oglesby covers education and the environment. Reach her at aoglesby@app.com or 732-557-5701.