Water Quality Monitoring
Is the Harbor Clean Enough for Swimming and Kayaking?
Short Answer: Yes, Most of the time!
Long Answer: Thanks to over a decade of cleanup efforts, we have reached a point where we can now manage the Harbor as a recreational resource for the City.
As with any public waterway, users should avoid contact with the water for at least 48 hours after a heavy rainfall. This is because rain carries pollutants off the land and into the water where they take time to dissipate. Waterfront Partnership recommends that swimming only take place during scheduled events at designated locations.
How Do We Monitor Bacteria Levels?
The Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore collects water samples from 5 sites in the Harbor 5 days a week (Mon-Fri) during the water recreation season. Samples are taken to ZooQuatic Lab to be analyzed according to the EPA's Recreational Water Quality Criteria.
Water quality monitoring has ended for the season and will resume for the water recreation season in 2025.
More Testing In More Places = More Water Recreation
By analyzing water samples from these locations along Baltimore’s Waterfront, we get an all-around idea of the harbor’s health. These sites are chosen based on the variety of physical, chemical, and biological features, allowing us to evaluate the general condition of our waterways. Moreover, these places can be used for recreational purposes such as kayaking, and the data helps us decide whether it’s safe to expand water-based activities in the region.
TESTING SITE #1 – Inner Harbor
The Inner Harbor is the crown jewel of Baltimore and the future location of the Inner Harbor Kayak Launch. The kayak launch will be publicly accessible and part of the Baltimore Blueway Trail system (baltimoreblueway.org). The harbor promenade along the water's edge encourages engagement with other activities offered at the harbor.
BE ADVISED: SWIMMING IN BALTIMORE HARBOR OUTSIDE OF PLANNED EVENTS IS NOT RECOMMENDED DUE TO BOAT TRAFFIC, CHANGES IN WEATHER, AND INTERMITTENT POLLUTION CONCERNS
Monitoring Frequency:
Mon-Fri, Memorial Day thru Labor Day
Most Recent Update:
2024 Testing Underway, Analysis Pending
TESTING SITE #2 – Bond Street Wharf
Bond Street Wharf resides in Baltimore’s Fells Point neighborhood. Broadway Pier is directly east of the wharf and connects to a strip of local shops leading to the historic Broadway Market (one of the first public markets in Baltimore). Beside the pier is a docking space for the Canton Kayak Club and the site serves as one of the club’s main meeting points. Water recreation activities such as fishing, boating, and kayaking are encouraged at Broadway Pier but swimming is not permitted. Bond Street Wharf is also home to a floating wetland (artificial marsh habitat). Demonstrating to visitors that despite urbanization’s effects on the environment, small steps to restore habitat significantly improves marine ecosystems.
BE ADVISED: SWIMMING IN BALTIMORE HARBOR OUTSIDE OF PLANNED EVENTS IS NOT RECOMMENDED DUE TO BOAT TRAFFIC, CHANGES IN WEATHER, AND INTERMITTENT POLLUTION CONCERNS
Monitoring Frequency:
Mon-Fri, Memorial Day thru Labor Day
Most Recent Update:
2024 Testing Underway, Analysis Pending
TESTING SITE #3 – Canton Waterfront Park
Canton Waterfront Park is one of the easternmost access points to Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. Visitors at the park can jog, bike or walk the waterfront promenade. The Baltimore Water Taxi is accessible at this location for visitors who want to travel to other popular harbor sites via boat. A boat ramp is available for those who want to enjoy the waterfront on their own watercraft, and fishing without a license is permitted on park grounds. The park is also home to Maryland’s Korean War Memorial, honoring the 527 Marylanders who died during the war.
SWIMMING IN BALTIMORE HARBOR OUTSIDE OF PLANNED EVENTS IS NOT RECOMMENDED DUE TO BOAT TRAFFIC, CHANGES IN WEATHER, AND INTERMITTENT POLLUTION CONCERNS
Monitoring Frequency:
Mon-Fri, Memorial Day thru Labor Day
Most Recent Update:
2024 Testing Underway, Analysis Pending
TESTING SITE #4 – Downtown Sailing Center
The Downtown Sailing Center (DSC) provides quality educational and life enriching programs that promote self-esteem and teamwork through the joy of sailing. The Downtown Sailing Center is committed to promoting an environment of inclusiveness and accessibility, especially to youth, persons with disabilities, and those with limited opportunity. The Downtown Sailing Center programs are available to the entire community. For adults, we offer adult education including accessible sailing; recreational sailing open sails; Thursday Night Racing and cruising. For youth, we offer summer camp, community programming that includes STEM curricula, literacy education, and Sailing Instructor Certification.
SWIMMING IN BALTIMORE HARBOR OUTSIDE OF PLANNED EVENTS IS NOT RECOMMENDED DUE TO BOAT TRAFFIC, CHANGES IN WEATHER, AND INTERMITTENT POLLUTION CONCERNS
Monitoring Frequency:
Mon-Fri, Memorial Day thru Labor Day
Most Recent Update:
2024 Testing Underway, Analysis Pending
TESTING SITE #5 – Mr. Trash Wheel
Mr. Trash Wheel is a semi-autonomous trash interceptor that is placed at the end of the Jones Falls River as it empties into the Baltimore Harbor. Far too lazy to chase trash around the ocean, Mr. Trash Wheel stays put and waits for the waste to flow to him. Sustainably powered and built to withstand the biggest storms, Mr. Trash Wheel uses a unique blend of solar and hydro power to pull hundreds of tons of trash out of the water each year.
SWIMMING IN BALTIMORE HARBOR OUTSIDE OF PLANNED EVENTS IS NOT RECOMMENDED DUE TO BOAT TRAFFIC, CHANGES IN WEATHER, AND INTERMITTENT POLLUTION CONCERNS.
Monitoring Frequency:
Mon-Fri, Memorial Day thru Labor Day
Most Recent Update:
2024 Testing Underway, Analysis Pending
HEALTHY HARBOR REPORT CARD 2023
In 2010, the Waterfront Partnership launched the Healthy Harbor Initiative with the goal of making the Baltimore Harbor safe for swimming and fishing. Each year, the Healthy Harbor Report Card tracks progress toward this goal by taking the pulse of the City’s streams and Harbor.
The water quality data used within this report was gathered by Blue Water Baltimore in 2023 and analyzed by the Waterfront Partnership’s Healthy Harbor Initiative.
For more than a decade, the Healthy Harbor Initiative has been championing the goal of a swimmable, fishable Baltimore Harbor. As early as 2019, we knew we were reaching a tipping point where, with routine monitoring, the Harbor could be safely managed as a recreational resource for the city and region.