Lake Linganore Monitoring Program

Water Samples

In 1995, the DWSU (formerly DUSWM) Department of Regulatory Compliance began to collect water quality samples from Lake Linganore. The samples are used for making water treatment plant operational decisions and to assist with proactively identifying potential issues with the sanitary sewer lines that surround the lake.

Since 2009, the County’s Lake Linganore Water Treatment Plant has been idle and is currently only to be used in an emergency backup capacity. However, the City of Frederick currently uses Linganore Creek as a water supply. The stored volume of water behind the dam in Lake Linganore provides limited reserve capacity for their needs.

Sample Locations

Samples are collected from 6 sites around the lake. A map showing those locations can be found online.

The beaches were chosen as sample locations solely because of their ease of access to the lake. (Note: The DWSU does not have regulatory authority to monitor bathing beaches.)

Monitoring Samples

Information related to DWSU’s monitoring efforts is found below:

• Frederick County DUSWM/Health Department LLA E. coli Town Hall Meeting Presentation – August 29, 2012 
• DUSWM Lake Linganore Monitoring Data 1995 through 2003 
• DUSWM Lake Linganore Monitoring Data 2003 through 2020
• DWSU Lake Linganore Monitoring Data 2021 through present (data will be updated quarterly)
• Current Monitoring Data 

Should you have questions, please contact Joshua Smith at 301-600-2581.

Additional Resources

• Maryland Department of Natural Resources Harmful Algae
• Maryland Department of Health Harmful Algae Blooms