Community Corner

How Clean is Maryland Beach Water?

The Natural Resources Defense Council ranked the state's waters 11th out of 30 for water safety.

By Patch Field Editor Whitney Teal

If you're thinking of heading to a Maryland beach this summer, be comforted that the Natural Resources Defense Council, an environmental activist group, ranked water quality at our shores 11th out of 30 states. 

“Sewage and contaminated runoff in the water can spoil a family vacation real fast, turning a day of lounging at the beach into a day at the doctor’s office with a sick child,” NRDC Senior Attorney Jon Devine said in a release. 

Out of 70 beaches that stretch across 19 miles of shoreline, just four had a notable portion of test samples (10 to 20 percent) exceed state standards for contaminants, according to a study by the Council. Nine had a very small percent of samples (0-10 percent) exceed standards, 16 didn't have any that exceeded standards and the vast majority—41 beaches—either weren't monitored or didn't have enough samples to monitor. 

Unsurprisingly, Ocean City was rated a "5-star" beach because of frequent water testing, a low level of contaminants and advisories posted online. (To see how other beaches fared, check out the website.) 


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