Why you should wait 48 hours before swimming after rain

The Harford County Health Department is reminding residents to stay out of local waters for at least 48 hours after heavy rainfall.

What’s Happening: The department issued the advisory Tuesday. Storm runoff can carry high levels of bacteria, including fecal matter, into local waterways.

What’s Important: Swimmers can get sick by swallowing contaminated water or by exposing open wounds, such as cuts, scrapes, and piercings, to it.

How This Affects Real People: It has been raining for the past two days in Harford County.

About the Author

B.T. Clark

B.T. Clark is an award-winning journalist and Publisher of The Harford County Sun and The Free State Press. He brings 25 years of experience in journalism, including 15 years as Managing Editor of Neighbor Newspapers in metro Atlanta, eight years as Digital Director at Times-Journal Inc., and seven years as Publisher of The Georgia Sun. He and his family recently relocated to Maryland. Clark is also the author of Principles Are Like Pants, You Ought to Have Some.