Toxic Nightmare: Baltimore Invites 125 People to Swim in Hazardous Harbor

The Waterfront Partnership, a non-profit organization in Baltimore, Maryland dedicated to improving and promoting the waterfront district, parks, and public spaces, is organizing an event in the Baltimore harbor to encourage public swimming in the downtown area.

The event is scheduled for June 23, with elected officials such as Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott planning to kick off the event with a ceremonial jump.

Despite ongoing efforts to clean up the harbor, including initiatives by the Waterfront Partnership’s Healthy Harbor Initiative, water quality remains only safe for swimming “most of the time in dry weather,” according to their annual report card.

The event, named “Harbor Splash,” will take place on June 23, 2024, and registration opens on May 29 for subscribers of the “Harbor Splash” newsletter.

Key partners and officials will participate in the event’s ceremonial jump at 9:20 a.m. from a floating dock at Bond Street Wharf in Fells Point.

The Healthy Harbor Initiative has been working towards creating a “swimmable, fishable” Baltimore Harbor for over a decade by collaborating with various organizations and individuals.

Michael Hankin, chairman of Waterfront Partnership’s Healthy Harbor Initiative, expressed that despite continued efforts being needed to improve the ecosystem, it’s crucial to begin swimming in the harbor as part of their commitment.

While this initiative is underway, it’s important to note that this area is also near where a cargo ship accident occurred at the southern end of Baltimore Harbor.

This unfortunate incident resulted in significant environmental impact and loss of life.

If you’re willing to take the chance of contracting unknown diseases or being exposed to hazardous materials, you can sign up to swim in the polluted waters of Baltimore Harbor.

In 2010, Michael Hankin, CEO of Brown Advisory Baltimore, initiated a campaign to make the harbor safe for swimming and fishing.

However, numerous issues have arisen since then.

Most recently, the body of a missing man was discovered in the harbor near Bond Street Wharf in Fells Point, a location where swimming is actively promoted.

Additionally, there are multiple reports of bodies being recovered from the harbor in recent years available online.

In 2021, “major maintenance and operational problems at the city’s two wastewater treatment plants were discovered, with high bacteria levels routinely detected in the discharge to the harbor from the Patapsco River facility.”

The state urges people “especially children and women of child-bearing age — to limit consumption of locally caught crabs and some fish because they have toxic contaminants picked up from past industrial activity.”

To deal with some of the visible pollution, Mr. Trash Wheel was instituted to be the first “trash interceptor of its kind” and has so far removed “millions of pounds of debris from the Inner Harbor.” 

Overflowing trash in the harbor is coupled with “persistent sewer leaks throughout Baltimore City” and an “overflow-prone sewer system.” After the city reportedly dumped more than $1 billion into fixing the sewer system, “there’s been a 75% decline in the volume of untreated sewage overflowing into the harbor since 2021.” According to Lindquist, the deadline for sewer repairs is not until 2030.

The reason for the strong push to encourage people to start swimming in the water is unclear, as stated by Michael Hankin of Waterfront Partnership.

Despite ongoing sewer repairs and a 2030 deadline, the city emphasizes the importance of continuing efforts to clean up the harbor.

Water quality in Baltimore’s harbor is shown to be heavily impacted by rainfall, which washes animal waste off pavement and leads to sewer overflows.

While some express concerns about the safety and responsibility of promoting water activities given these issues, others have made light-hearted comments about needing a vat of antibacterial soap or glowing after swimming in the water filled with fecal bacteria and pollutants.

Another noted that the water smells like the taste of “yak piss.” They continued, “Make sure to yank out all the heroin needles you’ll get stuck with.”

Others used it as an opportunity to make fun of the COVID-19 sheep, wondering how people will be safe with wet masks or whether a triple vaxxed person will be safe:

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