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State of the Severn 2008: Operation Clearwater & Bacterial Water Quality Oct. 21, 2008

State of the Severn 2008: Operation Clearwater & Bacterial Water Quality Oct. 21, 2008 Sally G. Hornor, Ph.D. Environmental Center Anne Arundel Community College Arnold MD sghornor@aacc.edu 410 777 2842. Operation Clearwater.

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State of the Severn 2008: Operation Clearwater & Bacterial Water Quality Oct. 21, 2008

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  1. State of the Severn 2008: Operation Clearwater & Bacterial Water Quality Oct. 21, 2008 Sally G. Hornor, Ph.D. Environmental Center Anne Arundel Community College Arnold MD sghornor@aacc.edu 410 777 2842

  2. Operation Clearwater Established 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

  3. 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

  4. What bacteria do we monitor? Enterococcus faecalis 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.

  5. Sample Collection Water samples are collected on Wednesday mornings at beaches or piers

  6. Membrane Filtration Method

  7. Enterococci Enumeration

  8. Enterococci/100 ml Summer 2008 6/4: Approximately 0.9” of rain within 24 hours of sampling

  9. Enterococci/100 ml 2006

  10. Trend Analysis for Report Card

  11. 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

  12. 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

  13. 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 Oyster Harbor Venice Beach 2004 Enterococci/100 ml

  14. 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

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