Waterways entering high bacteria season

Rivers, creeks get summer population of harmful bugs

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

It's an all too familiar scenario. As soon as the temperatures start to heat up, the Charles County Department of Health, Port Tobacco River Conservancy and Nanjemoy Conservancy begin routine testing of the county's waterways, their tributaries and watersheds, and discover high concentrations of enterococci bacteria in beach and stream samples.

This year is no exception.

The latest samples that were taken July 7 from local waterways showed high concentrations of the bacteria, particularly in the Port Tobacco River watershed at Chapel Point State Park, Walnut Hill Road, the eastern side of Washington Avenue at Sharon Drive, Darly Drive, Mary Drive, Kripple Kreek Place and Ann Harbor Drive, according to the health department.

A water advisory that warns folks to stay out of the water at Chapel Point State Park off Chapel Point Road in Port Tobacco has been posted in the affected areas, said Bill Leebel, health department spokesman.

Sherie Zimmer, who heads the PTRC's water monitoring program, said it is unfortunately not unusual to receive high bacteria readings in the Port Tobacco River watershed at this time of year.

"We haven't really done a lot yet countywide to solve the problem," she said, adding that the conservancy and county are working with the U.S. Geological Survey and the University of Maryland to find ways to reduce the pollution in the watershed. "We're trying to find out exactly what the problems are," she said. "We need to take a good look at all of the data that we've collected through the years and take it from there."

The conservancy and county have obtained state funding to help homeowners to replace failing septic systems in the watershed but much still needs to be done to address the issue, Zimmer said. That is one of several recommendations that came out of the Water Restoration Action Strategy that was developed by the health department, county government and the PTRC several years ago.

The conservancy has also planted a rain garden at Maurice J. McDonough High School in Pomfret and done buffer plantings at an area near the intersection of Route 225 and Mitchell Road to lessen the impact of stormwater runoff on the watershed, Zimmer said.

In addition, the conservancy is working with La Plata officials to identify problems at the town's wastewater treatment plant on Curley Hall Road. The town is doing an extensive upgrade of the plant that includes installing enhanced nutrient removal technology that will lessen the amount of harmful nutrients that are discharged into the watershed.

But it will take some time to see the results of those actions, Zimmer said.

"We can't expect results to happen immediately," she said.

The Port Tobacco River watershed is not the only area that has high concentrations of fecal bacteria. Water samples taken July 7 from the Wicomico River watershed at a private boat ramp on River Road also have a high concentration of the bacteria, Leebel said, adding that an advisory has also been posted at that location.

High levels of the bacteria were also found in samples taken July 7 from the Nanjemoy Creek watershed at Trappe Bridge, Hancock Run, Willets Crossing Road, Baptist Church Road and Mill Run, according to the health department.

No water advisories have been issued for those areas, Leebel said.

Warm water temperatures, a lack of movement in the water and stormwater runoff spark a rapid growth of the bacteria during the summer, Leebel said, adding that the health department takes water samples every two weeks from May to October.

The Port Tobacco River Conservancy and the Nanjemoy Conservancy retrieve water samples every two weeks in June, July and August.

The samples are delivered to the health department and they are sent to a lab for testing, Leebel said. Samples are not taken during the winter because bacteria do not grow in the water once the temperatures dip between 50 and 55 degrees, he said.

"It's getting to be that time of year again when the water warms up," he said. "We're kind of fighting a losing battle at this time of year."

There is no specific reason why the concentration of fecal bacteria is so high at Chapel Point State Park and River Road in Wicomico, Leebel said.

"There are so many factors that contribute to this," he said. "And the water testing results change from morning to evening on any given day."

Leebel warns folks to stay out of the water in the areas where advisories are posted and to take care whenever they come in contact with any of the local waterways.

Everyone should rinse off as soon as possible after swimming in the water, Leebel said, adding that care should be taken to keep water out of the nose, ears, mouth and eyes.

"I like to advise everyone who swims in natural bodies of water not to go in the water if they have open cuts or sores," he said. "Whether the bacteria level is high or low there is always some bacteria in the water that is harmful to humans."

If water with a high concentration of the fecal bacteria is swallowed it could cause serious digestive illness, including nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, Leebel said, adding that in some cases medical treatment should be sought.

"If you get in the water [in an area where there is an advisory] you get in at your own risk," he said.

"Bacteria are in the water in many forms but fecal bacteria are quite dangerous."

nmcconaty@somdnews.com