Contamination Alert: 5 New NJ Beaches Now Closed To Swimmers
If the summer of 2025 is known for anything, it'll be for contaminated swimming areas, sadly.
It seems as though this summer, we've seen more swimming areas close to the public for swimming than ever before.
Beachwood Beach Was First to Close This Season
It started with Beachwood Beach early in the year, which has happened almost every year now for as long as I can remember.
Six More NJ Beaches Followed With Swimming Bans
Then, later in the summer, we saw 6 swimming areas ban swimming across the shore.
READ MORE: Are Tarantulas Going To Invade NJ This Fall? Experts Weigh In.
From Keyport to Sea Isle City, the list of closed swimming areas was massive.
Even Ocean Gate, NJ, Had to Temporarily Shut Down Swimming
And then just a few days later, even more swimming areas were closed due to contamination, even my own town of Ocean Gate had to close our swimming area for a couple of days due to contamination.
Now, it looks like a few more popular swimming holes are banning swimming due to contamination.
Fecal Contamination and E. Coli Behind Most Closures
Most of the closures are due to high amounts of fecal matter in the water, gross!
According to APP, Harry Wright Lake in Manchester is currently banning swimming due to high levels of E. Coli in the water, and there are also several more swimming areas that have banned swimming as of 7/30 due to unusually high levels of contamination.
Full List of NJ Beaches Currently Closed to Swimmers
APP reports that the following swimming areas are currently closed:
- Windward Beach Park, Brick, NJ
- Cedar Bridge Manor Park, Brick, NJ
- Cedar Point, South Toms River
- Beachwood Beach (closed for the rest of the season)
- Harry Wright Lake, Manchester, NJ
Experts remind the public that swimming in contaminated water is a big risk; it can lead to all sorts of diseases.
You can check in with the NJ DEP to check in on the status of swimming areas throughout the state to see if they are safe to swim in or not.
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