DEP ADDS NEW BEACH
WATER QUALITY WEB PAGE
The state Department of Environmental
Protection (DEP) has a new web page featuring ocean beach
water quality information and links to county health departments
and other coastal related web sites.
The
website can be accessed either through DEP's homepage at
www.state.nj.us/dep,
which has an icon for Ocean Beach Information, or directly
at www.NJBeaches.org.
The website lists any ocean beaches that
are closed due to water quality and any special beach conditions.
DEP administers a Cooperative Coastal Monitoring Program
with local health departments. Recreational beach water
quality monitoring is performed every Monday and throughout
the week as needed at 184 ocean stations.
"New Jersey has the most comprehensive
ocean beach monitoring and public notification program in
the country. Federal legislation last year used New Jersey
as a model for initiating a national beach monitoring system.
We continue to reduce the number of beach closings and are
working toward a goal of zero closings," said DEP Commissioner
Bob Shinn.
Since 1995, the number of closings at New
Jersey beaches has remained low and no beaches have been
closed due to floatable debris since 1990. Most beach closings
are related to the presence of contaminated stormwater after
significant rainfall.
DEP inspects stormwater collection systems
and the wastewater treatment facilities that discharge to
the ocean. The department also performs daily aerial surveillance
of the state's nearshore coastal waters and the Hudson-Raritan
estuaries.
"I hope that everyone who enjoys the state's
waters this summer will share our respect and responsibility
for New Jersey's tremendous natural resources," Shinn said.
The web page links to other sites include
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for
water temperatures, Atlantic and Monmouth county health
departments, Rutgers University's Coastal Ocean Observation
Laboratory and two beach cameras.
Ocean beach closing information can still
be accessed through DEP's toll free number at 1-800-648-SAND
(1-800-648-7263).
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