Public Health and Safety
Ecological Health
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Bureau of Marine Water Monitoring
Photo Credit: NJDEP
The Bureau of Marine Water Monitoring (BMWM or the Bureau) located in Leeds Point, NJ has three on-site laboratory facilities (Bacteriology, Chemistry, and Microbiology). Each lab contains its own unique set of equipment, tools, and staff expertise to handle complicated analyses related to coastal water quality. Sensitive laboratory procedures are conducted for the detection of bacteria, nutrients, viruses, and other parameters. These labs are crucial to the core mission of the Bureau in protecting both the health and safety of the public, along with understanding ecological water quality dynamics. See below for more details on each laboratories role within BMWM.
For a full list of certified parameters, click here.
Bacteriology Lab
The Bacteriology Laboratory analyzes thousands of samples per year for Fecal Coliform in support of the Bureau’s National Shellfish Sanitation Program (NSSP). The results from this laboratory are used to classify coastal waters into specific shellfish harvest categories indicating where it is safe or unsafe to harvest shellfish. These classification statuses, as a result from the Bacti Lab’s analysis, are critical in protecting the public from unsafe shellfish consumption.
Chemistry Lab
The Chemistry Laboratory performs analysis on an entire suite of parameters. These include the typical Nitrogen and Phosphorus series, Chlorophyll, Salinity, Specific Conductance, Total Organic Carbon, Silica, and Turbidity. In addition to nutrient analysis, metals analysis can be performed on Arsenic, Cadmium, Chromium, Lead, Mercury, and Nickel. The Chemistry Lab participates in a variety of ‘Special Projects’ throughout the state of NJ. They support multiple agencies in various projects that require the analysis of various parameters to better understand water quality characteristics along the coast.
Microbiology Lab
The Advanced Microbiology Laboratory offer laboratory testing services to support the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Interstate Shellfish Sanitation Conference (ISSC) and Centers of Disease Control (CDC). Testing in this Laboratory includes:
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Analysis of shellfish, harvesting waters and sediments for Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio vulnificus using molecular methods DNA Probes and (Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction).
- Microbial Source Tracking (MST) of pollution using
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testing to classify pollution sources into categories of human, domesticated animal, or wildlife.
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to produce a DNA fingerprint for Vibrio parahaemolyticus.
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