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technique. Both techniques provide results in 24 hours. The water analyses for 

 enterococci concentrations are performed using the membrane filter technique, 

 which provides results in 48 hours. 



The CCMP evaluates trends in coastal water quality to determine the general 

 suitability of an area for recreational use. To make that determination, the CCMP 

 compares ambient bacteria concentrations with the Surface Water Quality 

 Standards, N.J.A.C. 7:9-4. The DEPE established the standards as part of an 

 antidegradation policy to maintain and protect existing uses of New Jersey's surface 

 waters, including recreational uses. The Surface Water Quality Standard for fecal 

 coliform in coastal waters require that the geometric mean of the fecal coliform 

 concentrations for ocean areas within 1500 feet of shore be no greater than 50 per 

 100 milliliters of sample. The concentrations for the bay areas may not exceed 200 

 per 100 milliliters of sample. The standards for enterococci require that the 

 concentrations be no greater than 35 per 100 milliliters of sample. 



The surface water quality standards for fecal coliform and enterococci are based 

 on geometric means of a minimum of five samples taken over a specific period of 

 time. For the CCMP evaluation of coastal water quality, this time period is May 

 through September. The weekly sampling during this period provides for a 

 minimum of 18 samples per station in the geometric mean calculation. Additional 

 samples taken by health departments from monitoring stations during an unusual 

 water quality problem are included in the calculation. 



B. Water Quality Testing at Coastal Recreational Beaches 



In addition to evaluating trends in coastal water quality to confirm that beaches 

 remain generally suitable for bathing, the CCMP also evaluates water quality in 

 order to determine that waters are safe for bathing at a particular time. To 

 determine that the waters are safe for bathing, the CCMP compares ambient bacteria 

 concentrations with the primary contact standards established by the DOH. Under 

 the DOH regulations for bathing beaches, fecal coliform concentrations may not 

 exceed 200 fecal coliform per 100 milliliters of sample. N.T.A.C. 8:26-7.19. 



The DOH primary contact standard is based on single samples, in contrast to the 

 surface water quality standards which are based upon a geometric mean of multiple 

 samples. The primary contact standard is based upon single samples because 

 episodic water quality problems may expose recreational bathers to infectious disease 

 agents. Single samples assist in identifying those episodic problems, while a 

 geometric mean of samples collected over time may show that no continuing 

 problem is present. In addition, single samples provide data relatively quickly, 

 enabling DOH to take action when episodic water quality problems occur; in 

 contrast, a geometric mean by its nature is based upon multiple samples collected 

 over time, making it difficult to take action immediately when a problem occurs. 



