Recreational Water Quality
See Current Advisories Below
After rainfall, all Anne Arundel County beaches are under a no swimming/no direct water contact advisory for 48 hours, due to predicted high bacteria levels. (preemptive advisory)
The Department of Health issues advisories against recreational use of water areas when a sewage spill, leak or other problem indicates that human waste is in the water. Current closings and advisories are listed below.
Lab results from collected water samples take at least two working days to process. Closings and advisories remain in effect until results meet acceptable levels for two or more consecutive days. Acceptable levels are determined by the State, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Anne Arundel County Department of Health.
The Department of Health has ordered recent closings,
issued advisories or conducted assessments
for the following County waterways:
July 30, 2010- ROCKWOOD BEACH IN PASADENA - NEW ADVISORY
The Department of Health issued an advisory on July 30 to avoid swimming, jet skiing and other direct water contact at Rockwood Beach on Rock Creek in Pasadena due to consistently high bacterial levels found in water samples. The advisory will remain in effect until further notice from the Department of Health. The Department advises people who have come in contact with the affected water to wash well with soap and warm water immediately. Clothing should also be washed. This is the second time a health advisory has been issued for Rockwood Beach within the past four weeks. On July 6, an advisory was issued for the beach, and it was lifted on July 9. Many factors, such as waterfowl, rainfall, water temperature and tidal action, can cause high bacteria readings.
July 26, 2010- PATUXENT RIVER IN LOTHIAN WARNING
The Department of Health has issued a warning to avoid swimming, wading and other direct water contact at the Patuxent River in the area from the Patuxent Mobile Home Park to Route 4 due to a sewage overflow of 5,000 gallons. The overflow was caused by a power outage at a privately owned sewage treatment plant at the Patuxent Mobile Home Park on July 25. The Department of Health has posted signs in the affected community and at the spill site. The Department warns people coming in contact with the affected water to wash well with soap and warm, clean water immediately. Clothing should also be washed. The warning will remain in effect through August 2.
July 23, 2010 - SPA CREEK IN ANNAPOLIS ADVISORY LIFTED
The Anne Arundel County Department of Health has lifted the advisory against swimming and direct water contact for Spa Creek. The Department of Health had issued an advisory on July 8 to avoid swimming, jet skiing and other direct water contact at Spa Creek in Annapolis from Compromise Street to the creek's headwaters due to a sewage overflow caused by a broken sewer line at Creek Drive and Lockwood Court in Annapolis. The sewer line was repaired, and it was inspected by Annapolis City Public Works.
July 6, 2010 - BAYSIDE BEACH IN PASADENA ON THE PATAPSCO RIVER ADVISORY LIFTED
The Anne Arundel County Department of Health has lifted the advisory against direct water contact for Bayside Beach in Pasadena. The advisory was issued on June 30 after high bacteria levels were found in the beach's water samples collected by the Department's Recreational Water Quality Monitoring Program. Sample results received on July 2 and July 6 showed that Bayside Beach has bacterial levels acceptable for recreational use, according to standards set by the Maryland Department of the Environment and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
2010
Furnace Creek (Glen Burnie) limited use advisory *
Marley Creek (Glen Burnie) limited use advisory *
Rock Creek (Pasadena) limited use advisory* from the headwaters to Valley Road, Wall Cove and White's Cove
*Limited use water contact advisory due to consistently high bacteria levels. The Department of Health advises against swimming, water skiing and other direct water contact due to possible health risks associated with high bacteria levels. There is no restriction on catching fish or crabs. There is no restriction on general boating activities. For more information call the Recreational Water Quality Monitoring Program at 410-222-7241.
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Anne Arundel County Recognized for Exemplary Public Notification Program
In a 2007 report, "What's In Your Water? The State of Public Notification in 11 U.S. States," American Rivers recognized the County Department of Health's e-mail alerts, Web site and telephone hotline as important sources of information for the public. The report calls Anne Arundel County's notification program "exemplary" and a model for other counties in distributing information about beach closures and sewage spills. See page 29 of "What's In Your Water?"
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