Maryland Water Report Card: Worst Water Systems
The most contaminated public water systems in Maryland, ranked by PFAS levels, lead, and EPA violations from official EPA data.
Quick Answer
City Of Westminster, Md has the highest PFAS in Maryland at 66.7 ppt (17x the EPA limit). Town Of Pittsville has the highest lead at 17.8 ppb. The tables below rank the worst systems in each category so you can see how your water compares.
Highest PFAS Levels in Maryland
Public water systems in Maryland with the highest peak PFAS ("forever chemical") reading in EPA UCMR5 testing (2023-2025). The EPA enforceable limit for PFOA and PFOS is 4 ppt.
| # | Water System | Location | Peak PFAS (ppt) | Compounds | vs 4 ppt limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | City Of Westminster, Md | Westminster · 35,256 served | 66.7 | 7 | 17x |
| 2 | Town Of Thurmont | Thurmont · 6,200 served | 48 | 4 | 12x |
| 3 | New Life Christian School | – | 24 | 7 | 6x |
| 4 | Town Of Elkton | Elkton · 15,625 served | 23.3 | 8 | 6x |
| 5 | Town Of Mount Airy | Mount Airy · 9,890 served | 22.7 | 7 | 6x |
| 6 | Glenelg Country School | – | 22.1 | 6 | 6x |
| 7 | City Of Salisbury | Salisbury · 30,343 served | 20 | 5 | 5x |
| 8 | Town Of Hampstead | Hampstead · 6,600 served | 17.3 | 7 | 4x |
| 9 | Town Of Manchester | Manchester · 4,954 served | 16.8 | 3 | 4x |
| 10 | Town Of Poolesville | Poolesville · 6,005 served | 15.1 | 8 | 4x |
| 11 | City Of Taneytown | Taneytown · 6,750 served | 15.1 | 6 | 4x |
| 12 | Town Of North East | North East · 8,600 served | 12.5 | 1 | 3x |
Highest Lead Levels in Maryland
Community water systems in Maryland with the highest 90th-percentile lead result under the EPA Lead and Copper Rule. The EPA action level is 15 ppb; there is no safe level of lead for children.
| # | Water System | Location | Lead 90th-pctile (ppb) | vs 15 ppb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Town Of Pittsville | Pittsville · 1,500 served | 17.8 | 1.2x over |
| 2 | Midland-Lonaconing | Lonaconing · 5,000 served | 17 | 1.1x over |
| 3 | Lexington Park | California · 43,030 served | 14 | within |
| 4 | The Provinces | Dunkirk · 3,991 served | 11 | within |
| 5 | Town Of Ocean City | Ocean City · 30,000 served | 10 | within |
| 6 | Highfield | Smithsburg · 1,141 served | 7 | within |
| 7 | City Of Havre De Grace | Havre De Grace · 14,000 served | 7 | within |
| 8 | Town Of Hurlock | Hurlock · 2,150 served | 6.7 | within |
| 9 | Beaches Water Co-Operative | St. Leonard · 2,000 served | 6.6 | within |
| 10 | Town Of Hancock | Hancock · 1,921 served | 6.4 | within |
| 11 | City Of Annapolis | Annapolis · 35,000 served | 6.3 | within |
| 12 | Town Of Berlin | Berlin · 4,500 served | 6 | within |
Most EPA Violations in Maryland
Community water systems in Maryland with the most health-based EPA Safe Drinking Water Act violations on record. A health-based violation means a contaminant exceeded its federal limit or required treatment was not applied.
| # | Water System | Location | Health-based violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Springfield Hospital Distribution | Sykesville · 1,500 served | 20 |
| 2 | Town Of Perryville | Perryville · 4,413 served | 13 |
| 3 | Town Of North East | North East · 8,600 served | 13 |
| 4 | City Of Pocomoke City | Pocomoke City · 4,100 served | 9 |
| 5 | Perry Point V.A. Medical Center | Perry Point · 2,000 served | 8 |
| 6 | Freedom District | Westminster · 24,867 served | 7 |
| 7 | City Of Havre De Grace | Havre De Grace · 14,000 served | 6 |
| 8 | City Of Westminster | Westminster · 35,256 served | 4 |
| 9 | Town Of Snow Hill | Snow Hill · 2,409 served | 4 |
| 10 | Town Of St. Michaels | St Michaels · 2,650 served | 3 |
| 11 | Lavale Sanitary Commission | Lavale · 5,500 served | 3 |
| 12 | City Of Baltimore | Baltimore · 1,600,000 served | 3 |
How This Report Card Is Built
PFAS rankings use EPA UCMR5 monitoring (2023-2025), showing each system's peak detection above the 4 ppt EPA limit. Lead rankings use the EPA Lead and Copper Rule 90th-percentile tap results. Violation counts come from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and count health-based violations. Lead and violation lists are limited to community water systems serving 1,000 or more people. Figures are the most severe on record and do not necessarily reflect current treated water.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most PFAS-contaminated water system in Maryland?
In EPA UCMR5 testing (2023-2025), City Of Westminster, Md in Westminster had the highest recorded PFAS level in Maryland at 66.7 ppt - about 17x the EPA's 4 ppt limit for PFOA and PFOS.
Which Maryland water system has the highest lead levels?
Town Of Pittsville in Pittsville had the highest 90th-percentile lead result in Maryland under the EPA Lead and Copper Rule at 17.8 ppb - 1.2x the 15 ppb action level.
Which Maryland water system has the most EPA violations?
Springfield Hospital Distribution in Sykesville has the most health-based EPA Safe Drinking Water Act violations on record in Maryland, with 20 violations.
Where does the Maryland water report card data come from?
PFAS figures come from EPA UCMR5 monitoring (2023-2025), lead from the EPA Lead and Copper Rule 90th-percentile tap results, and violations from EPA SDWIS health-based violation records. Figures are the most severe on record and do not necessarily reflect current treated water. Check your exact address at knowyourexposure.com.
What Maryland Residents Should Do
- Look up your exact address at knowyourexposure.com for your system's data
- See the full Maryland water quality overview
- If your system is listed, a certified filter (reverse osmosis for PFAS, NSF-53 for lead) reduces exposure at the tap. See the best water filters.