Ocean County beach closures and advisories

Sunshine returns, and beaches again fill with swimmers and sun worshipers. Before taking a dip, be aware of high bacteria counts that have some beaches monitored by the Ocean County Health Department either closed or under swim advisories.

Closures continue at Ocean County Park's lake in Lakewood, and at Harry Wright Lake in Manchester.

Advisories are in place at Shelter Cove, Toms River; Brooklyn Avenue, Lavallette; Hancock Avenue, Seaside Heights; Windward Beach, Brick; Anglesea and Wildwood Avenues, Ocean Gate; Avon Road, Pine Beach; Summit Avenue, Island Heights; Beachwood Beach, Beachwood.

New samples will be taken Wednesday.

Excessive levels of enterococcus in salt water samples, and of fecal coliform in fresh water samples, trigger immediate second tests. If the followup samples register satisfactory levels, beaches remain open. If not, they're closed until supplemental tests yield acceptable levels.

The limit for enterococcus levels in salt water is 104 colonies per 100 millilters. Fecal coliform presence cannot exceed 200 colonies per 100 milliliters of water.