Thursday, May 22, 2008

County Provides Easy Access to Ocean Water Quality Results

Residents and visitors who plan on enjoying Atlantic County’s 14 miles of beaches this summer can be certain that they are swimming in clean water by subscribing to receive weekly e-mail notifications from the Atlantic County Ocean Water Quality Program.

"The Ocean Water Quality Index provides simple and accurate information about the quality of water at your favorite Atlantic County beach," announced County Executive Dennis Levinson. "Weekly results are easily accessible by subscribing to our e-mail notification service, calling our toll-free hotline 1-800-633-SWIM or visiting our Web site at www.aclink.org."

Now in its twenty-first year of providing important information to the public, the Atlantic County Ocean Water Quality Program is coordinated by the Atlantic County Division of Public Health in cooperation with the Atlantic City Health Department to ensure safe bathing areas for residents and tourists who visit Atlantic County’s beaches from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Health Officials take weekly water quality samples at 34 different sites in Brigantine, Atlantic City, Ventnor, Margate, Longport and Somers Point. Each water sample is tested for bacteria according to standards set by the New Jersey State Department of Health.

The Ocean Water Quality Index includes the following five grades, based on the number of enterococcus bacteria per 100 milliliters of water:

Excellent, 0-26 bacteria count; Very Good, 27-52 bacteria count; Good, 53-78 bacteria count; Fair, 79-104 bacteria count; Poor, bacteria count above 104, waters closed to swimmers.

The index below reflects water testing samples from Monday, May 19:

Atlantic County Ocean Water Quality Index

Atlantic City - 4 (excellent); Brigantine - 3 (excellent); Longport - 2 (excellent); Margate - 3 (excellent); Ventnor - 6 (excellent)

Rating: All Excellent

To subscribe to receive a weekly e-mail notification when ocean water quality results have been updated, log on to www.aclink.org and click-on "subscribe." The latest results are available by calling the county’s toll-free hotline, 1-800-633-SWIM or visiting www.aclink.org in addition to being posted at area lifeguard stations.

"The waters off Atlantic County are consistently in the excellent category," noted County Health Officer Patricia Diamond. "We look forward to another enjoyable summer season for both residents and visitors."

For more information on this program, visit www.aclink.org/publichealth/ocean or call the Atlantic County Division of Public Health at 609-645-5935.

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