Baltimore County conducts enhanced bacterial monitoring, provides update on Back River

TOWSON, MD—In response to recent public health concerns about water quality in sections of Back River, County Executive Johnny Olszewski has directed Baltimore County’s environmental health specialists and natural resource specialists to coordinate enhanced bacterial monitoring of Back River in the areas adjacent to and downstream from Baltimore City’s Back River Wastewater Treatment plant. In addition to routine seasonal sampling […]

HEALTH ALERT: Residents advised to avoid contact with water in Back River

BALTIMORE, MD—Due to contaminants in Back River that can cause illness, the Maryland Department of the Environment and the Maryland Department of Health on Friday issued an alert advising residents to avoid contact with the water. The advisory contains the following recommendations: Avoid contact with Back River water Do not drink stream water Do not swim or wade in the […]

Olszewski announces remediation of nuisance midges in Back River

NOTTINGHAM, MD—County Executive Johnny Olszewski on Monday announced a joint effort with the Maryland Department of Agriculture to reduce the nuisance midge population on Back River. From early April through the fall of 2022, the Baltimore County Department of Environmental Protection and Sustainability (DEPS) will conduct aerial midge suppression treatments on a 1200-acre section of upper Back River. “We are […]

Maryland Department of the Environment issues statement after solid material seen floating in Back River [VIDEO]

UPDATE: A Health Alert has been issued advising residents to avoid contact with the water in the Back River. Original story below… —— ESSEX, MD—The Maryland Department of the Environment has issued a statement indicating that it has has begun to take steps toward improving operations at the Back River Wastewater Treatment Plant after solid materials were spotted floating in […]

Midge spraying operations to begin along Back River this week

TOWSON, MD—Beginning this week, the Baltimore County Department of Environmental Protection and Sustainability (DEPS) will begin periodically treating the upper section of Back River to suppress nuisance midge populations. The goal is not to eliminate all midges, but to reduce their population to tolerable levels. This Baltimore County Nuisance Midge Control Program is being conducted with matching funding support from […]

Baltimore County to test midge control treatment process on Back River

ESSEX, MD—The Baltimore County Department of Environmental Protection and Sustainability is preparing to treat a small, targeted area of Back River next week as proof of concept that helicopter application is a feasible option for controlling nuisance midge populations. The department expects to spray a naturally-occurring bacterial larvacide from a low-flying helicopter during daylight hours on or about Tuesday, November […]

Baltimore County, City lead proposed national class action settlement with Monsanto

BALTIMORE COUNTY, MD—Last week, the City of Baltimore and Baltimore County, along with eleven other governmental entities across the country, announced a proposed nationwide class action settlement with Monsanto Company, Pharmacia, LLC, and Solutia, Inc., for $550 million, resolving PCB water contamination claims for a proposed class of 2,528 governmental entities nationwide. “This national resolution will empower nearly 2,000 cities, […]