North-End Beaches Back Open to Swimming on Tuesday

Beaches between North Street and Third Street in Ocean City were reopened to swimming Tuesday morning.

The lifeguard-protected beaches at Stenton Place, St. Charles Place and Delancey Place were closed on Monday morning (Aug. 13) as health officials tested the water for bacteria levels.

The Cape May County Health Department notified the City at 8 a.m. that bathers could return to the water on those beaches.

Ocean City Community Services Director Jim Mallon said Monday morning that a discharge from a "localized sewer leak" on the streets near First Street and Corinthian Avenue led to the swimming restriction on Monday.

"As a result of this leak, some material may possibly have entered the storm sewer system," Mallon said in a news statement. "As a precaution, and at the direction of the Cape May County Health Department, water samples have been taken for testing. The swimming restriction is standard practice as a precautionary measure."

A Cape May County Health Department employee on the beach early Monday said the bathrooms on the Ocean City Boardwalk at First Street had overflowed on Sunday and that the discharge made its way through the outfall pipe that dumps storm water to the north of the First Street jetty.

The same beach was closed to swimming two weeks ago after a small sewage discharge on the streets. Beaches at Eighth, Ninth and 10th streets were closed last Monday after a similar incident.