People, Pets Should Avoid Triadelphia Reservoir Water Due To Harmful Algae Blooms

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — High concentrations of blue-green algae, known as harmful algal blooms, have been detected in the Triadelphia Reservoir. These blooms can produce extremely dangerous toxins that can sicken or kill people and animals, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The Triadelphia Reservoir, located along the Patuxent River in Montgomery and Howard counties, serves as a drinking water source for WSSC Water and a recreational area for hiking, fishing and boating.

The health advisory does not affect the T. Howard Duckett Reservoir and WSSC Water’s drinking water is not affected and continues to meet all Safe Drinking Water Act standards, WSSC said.

As a precaution, WSSC Water will continue to closely monitor water quality conditions at its Patuxent Water Filtration Plant.

Visitors to WSSC Water’s Triadelphia Reservoir should do the following:

• Avoid all recreational water contact. If water contact occurs, rinse off immediately with clean water.
• Do not allow pets to swim in or drink the water (prohibited at all times by WSSC Water watershed regulations).
• Do not consume fish livers or digestive organs from fish caught in the reservoir. If you catch a fish in the reservoir, wash the fillets thoroughly with drinking water.

Triadelphia Reservoir's water level is low due to an ongoing sediment removal project. All boat ramps remain closed and boating is prohibited. Big Branch and Triadelphia Recreation Areas are open during the project, while Pig Tail and Green Bridge are closed. Shoreline fishing is permitted, but only in designated areas.

When the concentration levels decrease below the advisory thresholds, an alert will be posted at wsscwater.com. For more information about algal blooms, visit WSSC Water’s algal blooms page.