PRINCE FREDERICK, Md. — Bacteria testing is routine for Calvert County and the surrounding counties, and bacteria itself is normal in the Chesapeake Bay. As a shallow estuary teeming with wildlife, bacteria is there. We also know that not all bacteria is bad — but it can make swimming unsafe for humans. Some bacteria pose more risk than others. The one most commonly found in the Chesapeake Bay, vibrio, is natural to brackish waters. It can make humans seriously sick, especially if it comes into contact with an open wound. Some beach closures are to be expected this summer.
Before the start of the official swim season even began, the town of Chesapeake Beach released an advisory notice for Bayfront Park, a small beach in Calvert County.
Swimmers should always check water quality before going into the bay. As a bare minimum, they should avoid the water for at least 48 hours after it rains to minimize bacteria exposure risk.
The bigger issue, however, is pollution, according to Alan Girard, Maryland director of advocacy at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.
Girard explained that agricultural and industrial runoff into the bay and its tributaries adds harmful nutrients and sediment to the water, particularly nitrogen and phosphorus. They create “dead zones,” or areas where there’s not enough oxygen in the water for the aquatic life that keep the bay healthy and economically sound for industries like crabbing and fishing. These contaminants, as well as PFAS and heavy metals found in the water, can also be harmful to human health.
“We have to remember it’s all connected,” Girard said. “What goes in the water goes in the soil, and vice versa.”
He explained that swimming isn’t inherently unsafe, but people do need to be aware of the risks each time they hit the beach. This is not to scare people off of swimming; rather, to help people make educated decisions about how they manage their relationship to the bay, and encourage them to address the source of the issues. Avoiding the use of pesticides on their lawns, for example, or making yourself heard in local governments’ decisions on land development.
“Go by the standards the county sets, check the water quality before you swim, and beyond that, learn about the bigger issues however you can. We have this beautiful bay here to enjoy and we want to be able to enjoy it for a long time,” Girard said.
Swimmers and beachgoers can stay up to date on water quality by following their local governments’ guidelines and standards, or by checking swimguide.org.
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