The closures are the result of concerning bacteria levels.

(Gizelka/iStockphoto.com)

Elevated bacteria levels have caused the Department of Environmental Protection toclose15 beaches in New Jersey, including Atlantic City beaches.

The concerning conditions wereannounced earlier this week. On Wednesday, the DEP issued three beach closures (all in Toms River in North Jersey) and 31 water advisories. As of Thursday morning, the closures increased in number (instead affectingAtlantic and Ocean counties) and the water quality advisories decreased to four (in Monmouth and Ocean counties).

The beach closures are due topotentially dangerous levels ofEnterococci bacteria, likelythe result of heavy rain that caused sewage and pollution runoff to flow into streams feeding into rivers and bays.

The N.J. State Sanitary Code maintains that concentrations of bacteria should not exceed 104 colonies ofEnterococciper 100 milliliters of sample. Beach closures are issued when two consecutive bacteria samples exceed the state standard, while beach advisories are issued when initial samples exceed the state standard.

The N.J. DEPhasclosedthe following beaches:

Water quality advisories have been issued at the following beaches:

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N.J. DEP Increases Beach Closures to 15, Including A.C. | News ... - Philadelphia magazine