HoCo Residents Warned That Microscopic Parasite Detected In Reservoir Can Cause Illness

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — During a routine test of the Druid Lake Reservoir Thursday, low levels of the microscopic parasite Cryptosporidium were detected.

Cryptosporidium is a microorganism commonly found in lakes and rivers, which can potentially cause gastrointestinal problems, including diarrhea, vomiting, fever and stomach pain, particularly in those who are immunocompromised or have a weakened immune system, officials reported. People with healthy immune systems typically are not impacted or quickly recover from exposure without medical treatment.

The Baltimore City Department of Public Works routinely tests the Druid Lake Reservoir. It appears that a small portion of eastern Howard County has been impacted, but because of the way the bureau of utilities stores and redistributes water once it is received from the city, out of an abundance of caution, county residents and businesses may "see a larger impact than initially anticipated."

The bureau of utilities has isolated the Elkridge pumping station, which pulls from Druid Lake Reservoir, and will continue to test the county's distribution stations to evaluate the levels of contamination in Howard County, officials noted.

To determine if you reside or your business is located in an area where your public water supply may potentially be affected, visit the county's interactive map.