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

2. 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?

3. 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

4. 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 or phone

5. 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

6. Enterococcus
faecalis
Escherichia coli

7. 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

8. Magothy
River
Severn
River
South River
Rhode and
West Rivers

9. 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

10. Sample Collection

11. Sample Filtration in Lab

12. Filtered Samples

13. Operation Clearwater Data

14. What if FC or enterococci count is high?
Community representative is contacted by phone or
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

15. Oyster Harbor Venice Beach 2004
Enterococci/100 ml
May 26: 1215
June 9:
June 23: 370
July 7:
July 21: 492
Bring in the border collies
August 4: 28
August 18: 0

16. 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

17. 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