Baltimore area waterways rated poorly for water quality, report shows
The water quality in several parts of the Baltimore region was extremely poor in 2024, according to a yearly report from Blue Water Baltimore.
The water quality monitoring program uses samples from 51 stations in Baltimore-area waterways to determine water health.
Monitoring water quality in the Baltimore region
Blue Water Baltimore measures different components of water health and uses those samples to determine water quality based on a scoring method created by the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science.
This year, for the first time since 2014, the organization chose not to assign letter grades to the scores.
The organization categorizes the region's waterways into four sections: Baltimore Harbor, Gwynns Falls, Jones Falls and Tidal Patapsco.
The 2024 water quality report shows that most of the waterways in the Baltimore region had an overall score between 0% and 39%.
A score of 0% to 19% indicates that water quality is very poor, leading to poor conditions for fish and shellfish. A score of 20% to 39% means that some health indicators are being met, though conditions for animals are still considered poor.
Report shows declines in ecological health
According to the data, all of the waterways in the Baltimore region have slightly declined in ecological health since 2023.
Water quality at the Baltimore Harbor, Gwynn Falls and Patapsco River regions has continued to decline between 2013 and 2024, while the quality in the Jones Falls region has slightly improved, data shows.
Water quality at the Baltimore Harbor, Gwynn Falls and Patapsco River regions has continued to decline between 2013 and 2024, while the quality in the Jones Falls region has slightly improved, data shows.
Blue Water Baltimore
According to the report, chlorophyll levels were poor in most of the waterways, with a score of 18% in the category.
The levels of chlorophyll can indicate different types of algae in the water. While algae provides food for fish and other animals, too much of it can kill fish and become toxic to people and wildlife, Blue Water Baltimore explains.
The organization describes the category of conductivity as a "humanity was here stamp," as it shows if a waterway has been damaged by pollutants that were introduced into the water by rain.
In 2024, the average conductivity score was 9%, according to the report.
"The long-term data trends are telling us that these problems are getting worse over time," Blue Water Baltimore said.
Recommendations to improve water quality
Blue Water Baltimore shared several recommendations in its 2024 report, saying, "Our streams should be fishable and swimmable, capable of sustaining thriving natural ecosystems for generations to come."
The organization is pushing to reach water quality goals that were outlined in the federal Clean Water Act (CWA), which was enacted in 1972.
The CWA aims to control water pollution levels and "restore and maintain the chemical, physical and biological integrity of the Nation's waters," according to the U.S. Department of the Interior.
The law outlines how much pollution can enter waterways across the country and allows the Environmental Protection Agency to implement control programs and water quality standards.
The Blue Water Baltimore report offers the following suggestions to improve ecosystem health in the region:
Increase investments in environmentally friendly stormwater infrastructure
Fund sewer infrastructure projects and maintenance for systems
Continue tracking water health with long-term monitoring projects
Pass legislation to eliminate trash pollution and allow the community to hold polluters accountable
Low air quality in Baltimore region
In April, a pollution report from the American Lung Association provided a similarly low score for air quality in the Baltimore region.
The report, which monitors smog levels and pollution, gave Baltimore County an "F" grade and named the Washington-Baltimore-Arlington metro region as the 36th worst in the country for ozone smog.
According to the report, Baltimore City has maintained several years of "A" grades for low particle pollution.
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This heritage has given us experience and capabilities that also enable us to drive change to help people defeat other serious chronic diseases such as obesity, rare blood, and endocrine disorders. We remain steadfast in our conviction that the formula for lasting success is to stay focused, think long-term, and do business in a financially, socially, and environmentally responsible way. With a US presence spanning 40 years, Novo Nordisk US is headquartered in New Jersey and employs over 10,000 people throughout the country across 12 manufacturing, R&D and corporate locations in eight states plus Washington DC. For more information, visit Facebook, Instagram, and X. Novo Nordisk is committed to the responsible use of our semaglutide-containing medicines which represent distinct products with different indications, dosages, prescribing information, titration schedules, and delivery forms. These products are not interchangeable and should not be used outside of their approved indications. Learn more at Contacts for further information Media:Liz Skrbkova (US)+1 609 917 0632USMediaRelations@ Ambre James-Brown (Global)+45 3079 9289Globalmedia@ Investors:Frederik Taylor Pitter (US)+1 609 613 0568fptr@ Jacob Martin Wiborg Rode (Global)+45 3075 5956jrde@ Sina Meyer (Global)+45 3079 6656 azey@ Ida Schaap Melvold (Global)+45 3077 5649 idmg@ Max Ung (Global)+45 3077 6414mxun@ References: Garvey T, Blüher M, Contreras C, et al. Coadministered Cagrilintide and Semaglutide in Adults with Overweight or Obesity. N Engl J Med. 2025;10.1056/NEJMoa2502081. A Research Study to Look at How Well CagriSema Helps People Living With Obesity Lose Weight and Maintain Weight Loss in the Long-term. Last Accessed: June 2025. Available at: Davies M, Bajaj H, Broholm C, et al. Cagrilintide–Semaglutide in Adults with Overweight or Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes. N Engl J Med. 2025;10.1056/NEJMoa2502082. Kaplan LM, Golden A, Jinnett K, et al. Perceptions of barriers to effective obesity care: results from the national action study. Obesity. 2018;26(1):61-69. Bray GA, Kim KK, Wilding JPH; World Obesity Federation. Obesity: a chronic relapsing progressive disease process. A position statement of the World Obesity Federation. Rev. 2017;18(7):715-723. Garvey WT, Mechanick JI, Brett EM, et al. American association of clinical endocrinologists and American College of Endocrinology comprehensive clinical practice guidelines for medical care of patients with obesity. Endocr Pract. 2016;22 (Suppl 3):1-203. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Adult obesity facts. Last accessed: June 2025. Available at: World Obesity Federation. World Obesity Atlas 2023. Last accessed: June 2025. Available at: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Risk Factors for Obesity. Last accessed: June 2025. Available at: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Why it matters. Last accessed: June 2025. Available at: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Obesity and Severe Obesity Prevalence in Adults: United States, August 2021–August 2023. Last accessed June 2025. Available at: View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE NOVO NORDISK INC. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
