Report on Water Quality Advisories in North Jersey and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

A report on recent water quality assessments in North Jersey indicates several swimming advisories have been issued due to elevated bacteria levels. This situation highlights critical challenges and responses related to public health, environmental protection, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Water Quality Monitoring and Public Health Protection

State and local health authorities in New Jersey are engaged in a collaborative water quality monitoring program throughout the summer. This initiative is fundamental to upholding SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) by ensuring recreational waters are safe for public use.

Monitoring Standards and Procedures

The monitoring protocol involves testing for specific indicator bacteria to assess health risks.

1. Freshwater Standard (SDG 6, SDG 15): In freshwater bodies, the concentration of E. coli bacteria must not exceed 320 colonies per 100 milliliters. Elevated levels often indicate contamination from waste, posing a direct threat to both human health and freshwater ecosystems.
2. Marine Water Standard (SDG 6, SDG 14): In coastal waters, the concentration of Enterococci bacteria must not exceed 104 colonies per 100 milliliters. This standard is crucial for protecting marine environments and the health of individuals using these resources.

When a sample exceeds these standards, an advisory is issued. A beach remains open under an advisory while resampling occurs. If a second consecutive sample fails, a closure is mandated, restricting water access until bacteria levels return to a safe range. This procedural framework directly supports SDG Target 3.9, which aims to reduce illnesses from water pollution.

Current Status of North Jersey Recreational Waters (As of July 18)

Locations Under Swimming Advisory

The following locations in North Jersey were under a swimming advisory, signaling a potential risk to public health and a localized failure to meet water quality targets under SDG 6:

• Highlands/Weis Natural Pool, Ringwood Borough, Passaic County
• Cresent Cove, Hopatcong Borough, Sussex County
• Byram Bay Community Club, Hopatcong Borough, Sussex County
• Woodland Trails, Vernon Township, Sussex County
• Tall Timbers Property Owners, Vernon Township, Sussex County
• Vernon Valley Lake – Walnut Hill, Vernon Township, Sussex County

Beach Closures and Escalated Response

Persistent contamination leads to beach closures, a measure to protect public health (SDG 3). For example, Lake Horicon in Lakehurst was closed after water samples showed E. coli levels at 960 colony-forming units—three times the state’s safety threshold. Such events underscore the urgent need to identify and mitigate pollution sources to restore the ecological health of water bodies (SDG 6, SDG 14, SDG 15).

Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

The issuance of water quality advisories and closures in New Jersey is directly linked to the success of several interconnected SDGs.

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being & SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

The primary goal of the NJ Beach Monitoring Program is to protect human health from waterborne pathogens. By issuing advisories, authorities empower the public with information to make safe decisions, contributing to SDG 3. The underlying issue of bacterial contamination is a direct challenge to SDG 6, which calls for clean water for all and the protection of water-related ecosystems.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

Access to safe and clean recreational areas like beaches and lakes is a key component of sustainable and resilient communities. Water pollution degrades these valuable public assets, impacting community well-being and local economies. Managing pollution sources is essential for achieving SDG 11.

SDG 14: Life Below Water & SDG 15: Life on Land

The bacteria that make water unsafe for humans are also indicators of pollution that harms aquatic life. Contaminants from sources like stormwater runoff or failing septic systems degrade habitats, threaten biodiversity, and disrupt the ecological balance of both marine (SDG 14) and freshwater (SDG 15) ecosystems.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

The response to water contamination in New Jersey exemplifies SDG 17. The collaboration between the Department of Environmental Protection and local health authorities is a critical partnership for monitoring, reporting, and managing public health risks, demonstrating the multi-level governance required to achieve sustainable development.

Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  This goal is directly addressed as the article focuses on public health risks associated with swimming in contaminated water. The issuance of “swimming advisories” and beach closures is a direct measure to protect the public from “unhealthy water conditions” caused by high levels of bacteria like E. coli and Enterococci, which can cause illness.

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

  The core issue of the article is the quality of recreational water bodies in New Jersey. The entire process of “water quality monitoring” conducted by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) relates to ensuring water is safe and free from pollution, which is a central theme of SDG 6.

• SDG 14: Life Below Water

  While the article’s primary focus is on human health, the presence of high levels of bacteria like E. coli is an indicator of pollution that also affects marine and freshwater ecosystems. The goal aims to “prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds,” and the bacterial contamination discussed is a form of such pollution affecting coastal and freshwater environments.

What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination.

   The article directly connects to this target by discussing the measures taken to prevent illnesses from water contamination. The advisories are issued to “warn the public of potentially unhealthy water conditions” due to high bacteria levels, which is a preventative action to reduce water-borne illnesses.

2. Target 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials…

   This target is central to the article. The monitoring program described is designed to assess and improve water quality. The article highlights instances where water quality fails to meet standards, such as Lake Horicon being “closed to swimming due to persistently high levels of bacteria,” indicating a need to reduce the pollution causing these high levels.

3. Target 6.6: By 2020, protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers, aquifers and lakes.

   The article focuses on the health of specific water-related ecosystems, namely “coastal and freshwater beaches” and lakes like “Lake Horicon” and various locations on “Lake Hopatcong.” The monitoring and subsequent closures are actions aimed at managing and protecting these ecosystems from the harmful effects of pollution.

Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Water Quality Measurements

  The article explicitly mentions the specific indicators used to measure water quality against a set standard. For freshwater, the indicator is the concentration of E. coli bacteria, which “does not exceed 320 colonies per 100 milliliters of sample.” For marine waters, it is the concentration of Enterococci bacteria, which “may not exceed 104 colonies per 100 milliliters of sample.” The article provides a specific measurement for Lake Horicon, where a sample “had 960 colony forming units, or three times the same swimming standard threshold,” serving as a direct data point for this indicator.

• Frequency of Advisories and Closures

  The number of swimming advisories and beach closures serves as an implied indicator of the state of water quality. The article lists several locations under advisory (“Highlands/Weis Natural Pool,” “Cresent Cove,” etc.) and mentions specific closures (“Lake Horicon,” “A. Paul King County Park”). Tracking the number and duration of these events over time can measure progress towards improving water quality and protecting public health.

• Proportion of Water Bodies Meeting Standards

  The statewide monitoring program itself implies an indicator related to the proportion of water bodies with good ambient water quality. By monitoring beaches “once a week,” the NJDEP is effectively tracking how many of New Jersey’s recreational water bodies meet the safety standards. A decrease in the number of advisories would indicate an increase in the proportion of healthy water bodies.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis

Source: northjersey.com