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.
Our water monitoring results help inform the public on where they can recreate safely along the River and provide 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 July 1, 2025, Gunpowder Riverkeeper sampled in wet conditions at 5 locations along the Gunpowder River Watershed including; Monkton (Monkton Rd/Rt. 138), Pot Rocks (Belair Rd/Rt 1), Jericho Bridge at Little Gunpowder (Jerusalem Mill) Taylor Creek and Foster’s Branch (Mariner’s Point Park).
Conditions are considered wet when there has been more than 1″ of rainfall measured at each location in the previous 48 hours. MDE advises against swimming in the river within 48 hours of a 1 inch rainfall event.
We’ve outlined our results and pictures from our sample sites below:
Monkton – 2,419.6 MPN
Pot Rocks Bel Air Rd/ Rt 1. – 1,413.6 MPN
Jericho Bridge – 2,419.6 MPN
Taylor Creek – 34.5 MPN
Foster Branch – 60.2 MPN
According to the Maryland Department of the Environment’s fact sheet 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 more advised precautions, see the Department’s tips for swimmers.
For additional water quality monitoring in the Gunpowder, Little Gunpowder, Bird, Middle River and Bush Watersheds:
Harford County Health Department Recreational Water Sampling