OPERATION CLEARWATER: Bacterial Water Quality Monitoring Sally G. Hornor Environmental Center Anne Arundel Community College, Arnold MD sghornor@aacc.edu TMAW/LivRAW Meeting March 9, 2007

SRA-AACC Partnership To Monitor Bacterial Water Quality How is the program managed? What bacteria are used as indicators? What are the sources of these bacteria? How do we sample and count? How are data reported? How can we use these data to improve water quality?

OPERATION CLEARWATER Established in 1974 to provide information on bacterial water quality at bathing beaches and marinas Only River Association-based bacterial water quality monitoring program in this region 2003 – Sierra Club Award of Appreciation, Anne Arundel Group

Operation Clearwater Program Management March: SRA sends out letter with application to all waterfront communities. Cost $22 per sample (weekly or biweekly schedule for 14 week season) + one-time $10 fee to SRA. Community appoints a Op. Clearwater representative. May 1: deadline for applications mid-May -Aug 30: sampling season; data posted weekly on SRA website linked to Hornor’s homepage at AACC. Severnriver.org and take link to Op. Clearwater Results If a count is high, community representative contacted via email or phone

Bacterial Indicators of Recreational Water Quality Indicator EPA “Safe level” for single sample Fecal Coliforms  200/100 ml Enterococci < 105/100 ml E. coli < 235/100 ml “Safe level” = keep GI illness to 19/1000 bathers at designated beaches

Enterococcus faecalis Escherichia coli

Sources of Enterococci in Tidal Waters of the Severn River Failing septic systems or sewer line Boat heads and pump-out stations Stormwater runoff carrying domestic animal waste Waterfowl and other wildlife

Magothy River Severn River South River Rhode and West Rivers

Operation Clearwater Sites Severn River Operation Clearwater Sites Ben Oaks Pointfield Landing Arden Round Bay Valentine Creek Little Round Bay Glen Oban Sherwood Forest The Downs Pines on the Severn Epping Forest Dreams Landing Winchester Brown’s Pond Weem’s Creek

Sample Collection

Sample Filtration in Lab

Filtered Samples

Operation Clearwater Data

What if FC or 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 2004 Venice Beach example

Oyster Harbor Venice Beach 2004 Enterococci/100 ml 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

What can be done to reduce bacterial counts? Reduce stormwater runoff with rain barrels, rain gardens and reduced impervious surfaces 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 Encourage waterfront property owners to maintain vegetated buffers

Value of River Association-Sponsored Bacterial Water Quality Monitoring Community involvement and education Community confidence in recreational water quality Timely reporting of poor recreational water quality Ability to respond rapidly to high counts and look for sources Long-term trends are determined