Patapsco River Reopens After Sewage Discharge: Health Officials

ANNAPOLIS, MD — Water quality has improved after a sewage overflow into the Patapsco River, so the Anne Arundel County Department of Health on Monday reopened a section of the waterway to swimming and other direct water contact.

The river area was closed last week to the public from the Howard County line to the Baltimore City line along River Road, the Patapsco Valley State Park, and Belle Grove Road. Health officials said the emergency closing was caused by a large-volume sewage overflow in Howard County at the Sylvan Lane, Sucker Branch Tributary at the Patapsco River.

The Patuxent River has been reopened for swimming and other uses from the Howard County line to the Baltimore Washington Parkway in Laurel, authorities said.

Health officials had warned anyone who came in contact with the contaminated water to wash well with soap and warm water immediately. Clothing should also be washed.

For more information, visit the Department of Health website or call the Water Quality Line, 410-222-7999.

Subscribers to the Department’s Recreational Water Quality E-mail Alerts will receive an e-mail notifying them when the waterway has been reopened. Alerts can also be received via text messages by following the Department on Twitter at www.twitter.com/aahealth_water.