What are Maryland Bacteriological Water Quality Standards?
Water quality standards vary depending on how a body of water is used. In Maryland, we have different standards for shellfish harvesting areas, swimming beaches and water contact recreation. The standards are established in the Code of Maryland Regulations, and are based on recommendations from the National Shellfish Sanitation Program and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Regular monitoring of water quality allows us to detect fecal pollution from human or animal waste in surface waters, and thus to evaluate and minimize the risk of human exposure to harmful pathogens. It is impossible to monitor all potential pathogens in water, but by watching for certain indicator organisms, we are able to assess health risk. In the past, we used fecal coliform for shellfish waters and recreational waters, and enterococcus or E. coli for swimming beaches. However, we changed our standards, following EPA guidance, and now use enterococcus/E. coli in all recreational waters. What information
