County's coastal water monitoring program tests weekly for levels of harmful contaminants in ocean water.

COURT HOUSE – This year’s Coastal Water Monitoring Program is scheduled to begin in Cape May County on May 12.

The Health Department, in cooperation with the state Department of Environmental Protection is continuing its Cooperative Coastal Monitoring Program.

“The monitoring program reaffirms our commitment to the surveillance and protection of the public’s health, coastal environment and natural resources, ” stated Freeholder Gerald Thornton in a release.

There are no changes in the monitoring program for this summer. Again, the indicator organism is enterococcus which complies with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s requirements intended to provide one standard for water quality for all ocean and tidal marine bathing beaches in the United States. The maximum estimated enterococcus bacteria in marine waters shall not exceed 104 per 100ml of sample. Two consecutive counts of 104 per 100ml at a sampling site constitute a closing.

A total of 61 ocean and eight back bay recreational sites have been selected for weekly monitoring. Testing of recreational sites will continue through Sept. 5.

The Back Bay Environmental Program consists of 45 sites that are sampled weekly throughout the summer.
These sites are sampled to collect water quality data in the county’s back bays.

The Health Department does not recommend swimming, bathing, water skiing or other recreational activities in areas designated under the Back Bay Environmental Program. Back bay environmental testing will begin on May 20.

The cooperative Ocean Outfall Program will maintain its scheduled eight sampling trips from May through September. This program is dedicated to monitor sewage treatment plant effluent discharge to the Atlantic Ocean from outfalls located one mile off Ocean City, Avalon, and Wildwood Crest.