New Jersey’s bay and river beaches are most likely to be impacted by bacteria pollution and should be better protected, a comprehensive report issued Thursday found.
The “Safe for Swimming” report issued by Environment New Jersey Research & Policy Center found that in 2019, bacteria levels at New Jersey beaches made swimming potentially unsafe on at least one day 73 times.
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection conducts weekly bacteria tests at 222 beaches. Some river and bay beaches in Ocean County were the most severely impacted in 2019, according to the report.
Beachwood Beach West, which sits along Toms River, had potentially unsafe water nine of the 18 times (50%) it was tested.
Barnegat Light Bay Beach saw 43% of testing days with potentially unsafe water. Brick’s Windward Beach along the Metedeconk River had 38%, while Harvey Cedars’ 75th Street beach along Barnegat Bay had 25%.
Other beaches potentially unsafe for swimming at least twice in 2019 included beaches in Sea Girt, Wildwood, Surf City, Belmar, Long Branch, Somers Point, Seaside Park, Upper Township, Highlands Borough, Neptune, North Wildwood, Sea Bright, Sea Isle City, Wildwood Crest and Cape May, according to the report.
The report cited polluted runoff from impervious surfaces, overflowing or failing sewer systems, and farms as common sources of contamination in coastal waterways.
In a prepared statement, Doug O’Malley, director of Environment New Jersey Research & Policy Center, said major infrastructure investments to prevent sewage overflows and run-off pollution are necessary.
“The Shore is packed this summer and our natural areas have never been more crowded. In the summer of COVID, let’s commit to practicing social distancing, beating the virus and cleaning up our waters. Now is the time to provide funding to ensure that our waters are always safe for swimming by reducing run-off and sewage pollution,” O’Malley said.
The U.S. House of Representatives is set to vote on a spending package Friday that proposes $11 billion in emergency water infrastructure funding.
A New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment about whether the state plans any infrastructure improvements at problematic beaches.
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Pwani za New Jersey na pwani za New Jersey zina uwezekano mkubwa wa kuathiriwa na uchafuzi wa bakteria na zinapaswa kulindwa vizuri, ripoti kamili iliyotolewa Alhamisi iligundua. Ripoti ya Usalama wa Kuogelea iliyotolewa na Kituo cha Utafiti na Sera ya Mazingira ya New Jersey iligundua kuwa katika 2019, viwango vya bakteria kwenye fukwe za New Jersey vilifanya kuogelea kuwa hatari angalau mara 73 kwa siku moja. Idara ya Ulinzi wa Mazingira ya New Jersey (NJDEP) inaendesha majaribio ya kila wiki ya bakteria katika fukwe 222. Pwani za mto na ghuba katika Kaunti ya Ocean zilikuwa na athari kubwa zaidi mnamo 2019, kulingana na ripoti hiyo. Beachwood Beach West, ambayo iko kando ya Mto Toms, ilikuwa na maji yasiyo salama mara tisa kati ya 18 (50%) ilijaribiwa. Barnegat Light Bay Beach iliona 43% ya siku za majaribio na maji yasiyo salama. Pwani ya Windward ya Brick, kando ya Mto Metedeconk, ilikuwa na 38%, wakati pwani ya Harvey Cedars, kando ya Barnegat Bay, ilikuwa na 25%. Pwani nyingine ambazo huenda hazikuwa salama kwa kuogelea angalau mara mbili mwaka huu ni pamoja na pwani za Sea Girt, Wildwood, Surf City, Belmar, Long Branch, Somers Point, Seaside Park, Upper Township, Highlands Borough, Neptune, North Wildwood, Bright Sea, Cape May na Wildwood Crest. Ripoti hiyo ilitaja maji machafu kutoka kwenye maeneo yasiyoweza kupenya, mifumo ya mifereji ya maji machafu inayovurugika au inayoshindwa, na mashamba kuwa vyanzo vya kawaida vya uchafuzi katika njia za maji za pwani. "Mkurugenzi wa Kituo cha Utafiti na Sera ya Mazingira cha New Jersey Doug O'Malley alisema ""Uwekezaji mkubwa wa miundombinu ili kuzuia mafuriko ya maji machafu na uchafuzi wa maji ni muhimu.""" <unk>The Shore ni packed majira ya joto na maeneo yetu ya asili hawajawahi kuwa na msongamano zaidi. Katika majira ya joto ya COVID, hebu tujitahidi kufanya mazoezi ya umbali wa kijamii, kushinda virusi na kusafisha maji yetu. Sasa ni wakati wa kutoa fedha ili kuhakikisha kwamba maji yetu ni daima salama kwa ajili ya kuogelea kwa kupunguza mtiririko na uchafuzi wa maji machafu, <unk> O'Malley alisema. Bunge la Marekani la Wawakilishi limepanga kupiga kura juu ya mpango wa matumizi ya fedha wa dola bilioni 11 kwa ajili ya ujenzi wa miundombinu ya maji. Msemaji wa Idara ya Ulinzi wa Mazingira ya New Jersey hakujibu mara moja ombi la maoni juu ya ikiwa serikali inapanga kuboresha miundombinu yoyote kwenye fukwe zenye shida. Kupata updates kila siku kutoka WHYY News!