Gunpowder River Water Quality June 16, 2021 Update

Gunpowder Riverkeeper is proud to provide up-to-date water quality information to residents of Baltimore and Harford counties along the Gunpowder and Bush River Watersheds. 

In partnership with Community Environmental Laboratories, an EPA-certified water testing laboratory located in Harford County, we have the capacity to sample various access points along the river for their respective E. Coli levels. Our water monitoring results help inform the public on where they can recreate safely along the River as well as indicators for possible stormwater or point-source pollution. 

The EPA’s Safe Swimming Criteria for Maximum Probable number of E. Coli is 126 MPN (geometric mean) and 235 MPN (single sample).

On June 16th, Gunpowder Riverkeeper sampled at 5 locations along the Gunpowder River; Monkton, Jericho Bridge, Rumsey Island, Town Creek and Foster’s Branch (Mariner’s Point Park). We’ve outlined our results and pictures from our sample sites below: 

Monkton – 50 MPN

Jericho Bridge – 130 MPN 

Rumsey Island – 30 MPN 

Town Creek – 80 MPN 

Foster’s Branch – 22 MPN

According to the Maryland Department of the Environment’s brief on the EPA’s water quality criteria, at the EPA’s Safe Swimming threshold of 126 MPN (geometric mean) / 235 MPN (single sample), it is estimated that 36 individuals out of 1000 swimmers may contract a water-borne gastroenteritis illness. When our samples indicate E. Coli counts over the EPA’s criteria, it is recommended that the public avoid contact with the water within that area of the Gunpowder River until further sampling is conducted. 

For additional water quality monitoring in the Gunpowder, Little Gunpowder, Bird and Bush Watersheds:

Harford County Health Department Recreational Water Sampling

Baltimore County Department of Health Water Sampling 

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