Sligo Creek Water Quality Summer Testing Results are in

Sligo Creek may look refreshing, but summer water quality testing results show that the creek’s water quality continues to be impaired, especially after it rains. That’s because during a rainstorm, sewage from leaking and cross-connected sewer lines, waste from pets and other warm-blooded animals, and chemical pollution flush down into the creek.

As a result, Sligo has high levels of E. Coli and other harmful bacteria. While walking and biking are fine activities, it’s a good idea to avoid wading, playing or swimming in Sligo Creek. If you do come into contact with creek water, wash yourself thoroughly.

We still need to do more work to make the creek safe. One simple step is properly disposing of pet waste when you and your pet are out walking in Sligo. Picking up and placing pet waste securely in the trash will help reduce these harmful bacteria in the creek.

View the ARK/FOSC data at AnacostiaRiverkeeper.org/water-quality to learn more about water quality testing in the Anacostia watershed.

Anacostia RiverKeeper Water Quality Data Map late August 2020 showing failing grade for MD streams including Sligo Creek

Anacostia RiverKeeper Water Quality Data Map late August 2020 showing a failing grade for MD streams including Sligo Creek

This map shows Anacostia Riverkeeper’s water quality monitoring sites on all waters in the Maryland part of the Anacostia watershed. The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) funded the project through a grant to Anacostia Riverkeeper, which partnered with Corazón Latino, Friends of Sligo Creek, Friends of Lower Beaverdam Creek, and Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay. Volunteers from these groups collected water quality data from 7 sites every other week (Wed/Thur) from May to September.