State of the Severn 2008:Operation Clearwater &Bacterial Water Quality

Oct. 21, 2008 Sally G. Hornor, Ph.D.Environmental Center

Anne Arundel Community CollegeArnold MD

sghornor@aacc.edu410 777 2842

Operation ClearwaterEstablished in 1974 to provide information on bacterial water quality at beaches and marinas; sponsored by the Severn River Association. Only River Association-based bacterial water quality monitoring program in this region.

2003 – Sierra Club Award of Appreciation, Anne Arundel Group

How is the Program Managed?• March: Applications mailed to waterfront

communities. Cost $25 per sample; weekly or biweekly options

• May 1: deadline for applications. Community appoints representative to receive notices

• Mid-May to Late Aug: sampling season. Data posted weekly at Sally Hornor’s AACC homepage: http://ola4.aacc.edu/sghornor

• Access to this website through severnriver.org; click on Op Clearwater

• Community reps contacted weekly via email alert that website is updated

Enterococcusfaecalis Escherichia coli

We monitor the number of enterococci (E. faecalis) since they have been found by the EPA to be more closely related to illnesses associated with swimming than the number of fecal coliforms (E. coli). When enterococci counts are <105/100 ml, the water is considered safe for recreational use.

What bacteria do we monitor?

Sample Collection

Water samples are collected on Wednesday mornings at beaches or piers

Membrane Filtration Method

Enterococci Enumeration

  5/22 5/28 6/4* 6/11 6/18 6/25 7/2 7/9 7/16 7/23 7/30 8/6 8/13 8/20

Pines 4 8 3 80 8 16 4 8 3 4 28 4 3 4

Glen Oban   3   4   3   16   4   3   4

Brown’s Pond 4   120   24   3   24   28   8  

Bembe Beach         16   3   20   36   4  

Annapolis Roads 12   30   28   3   4   3   128  

Oyster Harbor 3 24 20 8 3 4 61 4 80 450 180 48 16 8

Epping Forest       3   4   3   20   12   16

Saefern 8 3 10 36 24 16 4 8 8 3 3 20 3 16

The Downs 16 16 130 4 16 28 8 3 36 8 4 44 16 8

Sherwood Forest - pier   32   3   12 3 3 3 3 16 3 3 32

Herald Harbor – Bonaparte Beach

12 8 180 72 12 8 3 12 12 16 148 3 3 8

Herald Harbor – Riverside Dr.

3   300   8   3   3   8   4  

West Severna Park   3 50 20 80 3 24 4 84 4 20 20 16 8

Enterococci/100 ml Summer 2008

6/4: Approximately 0.9” of rain within 24 hours of sampling

Location 5/18 5/25 6/1  6/8* 6/15 6/22 6/29 7/6* 7/13 7/20 7/27 8/3 8/10* 8/17* 8/24

Brown's Pond 16    4    22   185   63   8   305   11

Pines      14  50 22 30 0 110 73 0 33 8 60 80 12

Glen Oban         10   79 300   4 34 0   1725  

Round Bay    91   170   102   180   70   47   250  

W Severna Pk    23   310   349   1040   21   44   1780  

Colchester 26    92   379   4   158   22   80    

Sherwood

Forest/pier 0    5   52 18 25 50 8 22 26 22 60 270  16

The Downs 70  12  8 20 38 11 28 465 17 15 24 37 90 745 11

Saefern       0   9   820   28   51   870  

Herald Harbor/Bonapar

te Beach 8  65  27 40 61 235 95 415 131 192 26 29 155 5600 64

Weem's

Cr/Dewey Beach 8    23   31   132   42   77   2825   14

Bembe Beach 12    7   20   146   193   20   40   0

Annapolis

Roads  7    23   10   91   368   47   70   153

* 6/8: Between 1.25-2.15" rain within 36 hours of sampling ;  *7/6: Approximately 1" of rain within 24 hours of sampling *8/10: Approximately 1" of rain within 48 hours of sampling ;  *8/17: Between 0.6-1.7" of rain within 18 hours  of sampling

Enterococci/100 ml 2006

Trend Analysis for Report Card

What are the sources of enterococci in surface waters ?

• Failing septic systems or sewer line• Sanitary waste from boat heads • Stormwater runoff carrying domestic animal

waste• Waterfowl and other wildlife

What if the enterococci count is high?

• Community representative is contacted by phone or email

• Often communities place a sign at beachfront notifying swimmers that bacterial counts are high

• Communities include information on bacterial counts and recreational water quality in newsletters

• Search for source of bacteria

Oyster Harbor Venice Beach 2004

• May 26: 1215• June 9: 42• June 23: 370• July 7: 302• July 21: 492• Bring in the border

collies • August 4: 28• August 18: 0

Enterococci/100 ml

What can be done to reduce bacterial counts?

• Reduce stormwater runoff with rain barrels, rain gardens and reduced impervious surfaces

• Encourage waterfront property owners to maintain vegetated buffers

• Maintain septic systems• Educate boaters about the importance of

using holding tanks and pumpout stations at marinas

• Discourage feeding of waterfowl at bathing beaches

• Encourage pet owners to clean up after their pets