Recreational Water Quality as of 6/1/22

Posted on by HSIA Postmaster
All sample sites had acceptable bacteria levels for recreational water activities. However, please keep in mind that samples were collected on Wednesday, June 1 and therefore the results do not account for the major rain event on Thursday evening.  Precipitation events wash pollutants from the surrounding watershed into the waterways and may increase bacteria levels of the water. 

The acceptable concentration of Enterococci bacteria for swimming and other direct water contact is less than 104 (cfu) colony forming units/100ml.  


Anne Arundel County has a 48 hour no swimming/recreational guidance of water ways after a rain event.  Feces from geese and dogs, as well as leaky septic tanks are the top contributors to high bacteria results.


The samples are collected by Arundel Rivers volunteers and analyzed by Dr. Tammy Domanski’s Lab at the Anne Arundel Community College.