The Metedeconk River, at Windward Beach in Brick, N.J. (Photo: Daniel Nee)
The Ocean County Health Department issued a swim advisory for Windward Beach on Tuesday, warning that water testing turned up heightened levels of pollutants.
The beach was open Tuesday, but may be closed Wednesday if a second round of tests performed Tuesday show the situation is lingering. The test showed 160 enterococci (cfu/100ml). The state allowable limit is 104.
According to the state Department of Environmental Protection, a swim advisory is issued when an initial sample exceeds the state standard of a particular substance. Swimming Advisories warn the public of “potentially unhealthy water conditions.”
Additional sampling is conducted until water quality results are again within the standard, the DEP said. Beaches are closed if two consecutive samples exceed allowable levels.