The cloud of fecal bacteria that lingered off New Jersey beaches the week of June 11 is a reminder of a grim truth on the Shore: The water is not safe after it rains. The reason why is pretty easy to understand, but the solutions are harder to envision here in the most developed U.S. state, where one out of every eight square feet of land cannot be penetrated by water because of a manmade structure. Shopping malls, restaurants, parking lots and roofs of every shape and size prevent rainwater from soaking into the soil and naturally filtering down into the water table. Instead, for every inch of rain that falls on a typical neighborhood, tens of thousands of gallons of rain are funneled through the streets and sewers. It's on this journey where the rain absorbs bacteria from bird, dog and (occasionally) human waste before the now-tainted rain is discharged out into nearby streams and rivers, which then feed all of that pollution into the bays and … [Read more...] about Jersey Shore beaches: This is why fecal bacteria sometimes takes over
Bacteria
NJ beaches: Last of the fecal bacteria clears from river beach
See the full beach-by-beach results below MONDAY A.M. UPDATE: Results released on Saturday showed fecal bacteria at the east beach in Pine Beach had returned to safe levels. Testing of all lifeguarded beaches in New Jersey begins anew this morning and those results will be released Tuesday afternoon. Any excessive readings will be shared on app.com. THURSDAY P.M. UPDATE: The closure of Windward Beach in Brick has been lifted after bacteria counts plunged in the water of the Metedeconk River. However, the east beach in Pine Beach is now closed for a fourth straight day. There was a lab accident that prevented the sample from being processed, according to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. THURSDAY A.M. UPDATE: Both Windward Beach in Brick and the east beach in Pine Beach remain closed due to the continued presence of excessive bacteria. Those river beaches have been tested again and those results will be released this afternoon. WEDNESDAY: The fecal bacteria … [Read more...] about NJ beaches: Last of the fecal bacteria clears from river beach
Jersey Shore beaches: Bacteria absent, but watch the weather
The eruption of fecal bacteria that besieged the Jersey Shore last week has not returned, according to test results released Tuesday. All public swimming beaches in New Jersey passed routine weekly testing, just days after the most widespread spate of bacteria-related advisories in at least 13 summers. But the wise beachgoer knows that the purity of the Shore's bathing waters is subject to change depending on the weather. These sunny skies could be shrouded in grey as soon as Wednesday. VIDEO: Watch as three seals are released back into the wild at Sandy Hook Facebook Twitter Google+ LinkedIn NJ beaches: Belmar Day at the Beach Fullscreen Posted! A link has been posted to your Facebook feed. Buy Photo Day at the Beach: Belmar on June 14, 2018. Peter Ackerman Buy Photo Fullscreen Buy Photo Day at the Beach: Belmar on June 14, 2018. Peter Ackerman Buy Photo Fullscreen Buy Photo Day at the Beach: Belmar on June 14, 2018. … [Read more...] about Jersey Shore beaches: Bacteria absent, but watch the weather
State testing Buckeye Lake for dangerous bacteria
BUCKEYE LAKE - The state has confirmed it is testing for dangerous bacteria in Buckeye Lake. Matt Eiselstein, Ohio Department of Natural Resources spokesman, said the state started testing after the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency advised ODNR an EPA study had detected an increased level of bacteria in the lake. "As part of the study the EPA does on waters throughout the lake, we were testing Buckeye Lake at three different sites," EPA spokesman James Lee said. "When we got the results back, we sent them over to ODNR." Lee added the levels of bacteria found in the lake are not anything unusual for this time of year. "Also, it's important to note that Buckeye Lake is not a source of drinking water for the public," Lee said. Eiselstein said ODNR's policy is to wait for a report of an algae bloom on the lake before it sends anyone to test it. "From the bacteria levels the EPA found, they indicated we should come out and check the lake," he said. Eiselstein said the tests would look … [Read more...] about State testing Buckeye Lake for dangerous bacteria
Scientists discover billions of tons of ‘zombie’ bacteria inhabits the ground beneath our feet
(CNN)Barely alive "zombie" bacteria and other life forms are thriving miles below the Earth's surface, scientists have found after a decade of research which changes perceptions of life on our planet. The discovery of what has been termed a "subterranean Galapagos" was announced by the Deep Carbon Observatory Tuesday, which said many of the lifeforms have lifespans of millions of years. DCO executive director Robert Hazen said the findings are the "crowning achievement" of the 1,000-strong collective of scientists, who "have opened our eyes to remarkable vistas -- emerging views of life that we never knew existed." The biomass of the organisms' ecosystem is estimated at 15 to 23 billion metric tonnes (16.6 to 25.4 billion tons), which is hundreds of times greater than that of all human life, and comprises a volume of 2 to 2.3 billion cubic kilometers (480 to 550 million cubic miles) -- almost twice that of all the planet's oceans. Making use of advances in technology, scientists … [Read more...] about Scientists discover billions of tons of ‘zombie’ bacteria inhabits the ground beneath our feet