Recreational Water Quality as of 8/10/22

Posted on by HSIA Postmaster
Four sites – Granville Creek, South River Park Community, Southdown Shores, and Sylvan Shores – were above the acceptable range this week. However, given the amount of rain this week, everyone should adhere to Anne Arundel County’s 48 hour no swimming/recreational guidance of water ways after a rain event.


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

Precipitation events wash pollutants from the surrounding watershed into the waterways and may increase bacteria levels of the water. 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.