St. Mary’s County Beach Water Testing Underway For Summer Season

LEONARDTOWN, Md. — St. Mary’s County health officials are testing water quality at local public beaches throughout the summer season to help keep beachgoers informed of possible advisories.

The St. Mary’s County Health Department’s Environmental Health Division conducts beach water quality testing from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Results are typically updated weekly on Fridays, depending on the sampling schedule and processing time.

The monitoring includes the county’s three Recreation & Parks waterfront parks: Snow Hill Waterfront Park, Myrtle Point Waterfront Park and Elms Beach Waterfront Park.

Other monitored locations include Breton Bay Civic Association Main Beach in Leonardtown; Camp MD in Piney Point; Cedar Cove Community Beach in Lexington Park; Golden Beach and Patuxent Knolls beaches in Charlotte Hall; Greenwell State Park beaches in Hollywood; Point Lookout State Park’s Hammond Rest Area Beach in Scotland; St. Clements Shores Community Beach in Compton; St. Mary’s College of Maryland in St. Mary’s City; and Wicomico Shores Waterfront Park in Budds Creek.

County officials encouraged residents and visitors to check current water quality monitoring results before swimming and to stay aware of any posted advisories. Beachgoers are also encouraged to follow healthy beach habits, including avoiding swimming after heavy rainfall, keeping children and pets out of water that looks discolored or smells unusual, and washing hands before eating.

Residents who see an accumulation of dead fish in the water can report it to the Maryland Department of the Environment at 800-285-8195 during regular business hours or to the Maryland Emergency Management Agency at 866-633-4686 on nights and weekends. Blue-green algal blooms, which can make water appear bright green or look like green paint on the surface, can be reported through the Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ Eyes on the Bay website or by calling 866-633-4686.

Additional details about St. Mary’s County Recreation & Parks locations are available through the county’s Recreation & Parks locations map.

The summer testing program is intended to help residents make informed decisions while enjoying local beaches during the busiest swimming season of the year.