Anne Arundel County Department of Health

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Recreational Water Quality

Recreational Water Quality Reports as of 7.30.2010
Sample Locations		Sample Taken	Frequency of Samples	Enterococci Count	EPA Acceptable Level
See EPA acceptable level description below
Rock Creek
*	Chandler Point	7.27.2010	monthly	2	158
*	Rockwood Beach	7.27.2010	monthly	193**	35

* These samples were collected after rainfall which may cause high counts.

** This location is being resampled to verify and assess the high bacteria counts. An advisory may be issued when results do not meet acceptable levels for two consecutive collections.

** Advisory for Rockwood Beach in Pasadena

The acceptable level for swimming and other direct water contact is determined by the EPA, Maryland Department of the Environment and the Anne Arundel County Department of Health. For bodies of water that the Department samples weekly, the acceptable level of enterococci bacteria is a geometric mean of 35 or fewer bacteria colonies per 100 milliliters of water. (The geometric mean for a body of water is a type of average of all test results for that water area during the swim season.) For areas that are sampled biweekly, the acceptable level is 104 or fewer bacteria colonies per 100 milliliters of water. For areas that are sampled monthly, the acceptable level is 158 or fewer colonies per 100 milliliters.

The Department also operates a 24-hour automated test results phone line at 410-222-7999. For more information, call the Recreational Water Quality Monitoring Program at 410-222-7241.