123 



Graphs 1 through 4 show the geometric means of the fecal coliform concentration in 

 samples collected at each monitoring station during each beach season from 1989 

 through 1992. The graphs show that the highest concentrations of fecal coliform 

 generally are present in five areas: Long Branch, Seaside Heights, Atlantic City, 

 Oc ?an City and the Wildwoods. As noted in Table 2 below, the geographic means 

 from those areas were lower in 1992 than in 1991. 



Table 2 shows the geometric means of the fecal coliform concentration for each 

 of these areas during the periods shown in the graphs. A series of the three highest 

 geometric means for each year from Atlantic City, Ocean City and the Wildwoods 

 are shown, because these areas experienced elevated geometric means at several 

 stations rather than at just a single station as in Long Branch and Seaside Heights. 



Table 2 



In evaluating the data presented on the graphs, it is important to note that the 

 minimum detectable limit (MDL) varies by laboratory. When the fecal coliform 

 concentration of a sample is less than the laboratory's MDL, the MDL is recorded as 

 that sample's concentration for the purpose of calculating the geometric mean. For 

 this reason, samples analyzed in a laboratory with a higher MDL will tend to show a 

 higher geometric mean than samples analyzed in a laboratory with a lower MDL. 

 The MDL for each county's laboratory is set forth in Table 3 below: 



T3 t>l? 3 



County MDL (fecM coliform /millilitprl 



Atlantic 2.0 



Cape May 2.0 



Middlesex 10.0 



Monmouth 2.2 



Ocean 10.0 



Graphs 1 through 4 are set forth below. The numbered points on the graphs 

 represent the geographic means of the fecal coliform concentrations for the 

 following areas: (1) Long Branch; (2) Seaside Heights; (3) Atlantic City; (4) Ocean 

 City; and (5) the Wildwoods. Table B in the Appendix sets forth all of the 

 monitoring data upon which the graphs for 1991 and 1992 are based. Table B is 

 positioned in the Appendix because of the volume of data it contains; the table 

 includes monitoring results from 331 monitoring stations. 



73-065 0-93-5 



