For Immediate Release
Contact: Megan Steele, megan.steele@sierraclub.org
Five New Jersey beaches are under swimming advisories due to high levels of fecal bacteria. The beaches include L Street beach in Belmar, South Bath Avenue beach in Long Branch, Brooklyn Avenue beach in Lavallette, Stockton Avenue beach in Long Beach Township, and Hancock Avenue beach in Seaside Heights.
“We are seeing beaches being closed or under advisory because the state hasn’t dealt with our chronic pollution problems. As our former director Jeff used to say, ‘when it rains, it pours sewage and runoff.’ We should be fixing our combined sewer overflow systems and our water systems that are outdated and breaking. The DEP should also be using testing methods that give results in hours instead of days,” said Taylor McFarland, Acting Director, Sierra Club New Jersey. “This has been one of the rainiest and warmest summers on record. These extreme weather events are happening way too often and with more frequency thanks to climate change.”