01The verdict: is Funkstown water safe?
Funkstown's tap water meets most EPA standards but has areas that warrant attention. With a grade of A- (85.8/100), some contaminant levels or compliance issues suggest that residents may benefit from additional filtration. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 1,300 residents using surface water (rivers, lakes, or reservoirs).
1 unresolved violation on record
EPA records show an open compliance item for this system. Most are administrative, but unresolved items are worth watching.
See what was cited ↓Top half in Maryland
Funkstown ranks #26 of 107 graded Maryland cities.
See the comparison ↓A flood-prone service area
8 federal disaster declarations on record. After severe weather, watch for boil-water advisories.
See the risk factors ↓Funkstown's drinking water received a grade of A- (85.8 out of 100), indicating good water quality. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 1,300 residents using purchased surface water.
Lead data is not currently available for this system. This system has not yet been tested for PFAS under the EPA UCMR 5 program. The system has 2 violations on record, including 1 health-based violation. 1 remains unresolved.
Funkstown ranks #26 out of 107 cities in Maryland for water quality, placing it above average in the state. The city draws from surface water sources, which are more susceptible to seasonal runoff and agricultural contamination, requiring extensive multi-barrier treatment including coagulation, filtration, and disinfection. As a small community water system, Funkstown may have fewer resources for advanced treatment technologies and infrastructure upgrades compared to larger utilities.
02What's in Funkstown's water
Every contaminant flagged in Funkstown, on one shared scale: distance to its own legal limit. The red line is the limit — anything past it is out of compliance, and the closer a bar gets, the less headroom the system has.
No contaminants were measured above screening thresholds in the most recent EPA sampling data for this system. The full testing table below lists everything checked.
Full contaminants report
No contaminant data available for this city.
Cities ranked by 90th-percentile lead PF PFAS in Maryland
Cities ranked by compounds detected Cu Copper in Maryland
Cities ranked by 90th-percentile copper
03Funkstown's ten-year track record
Each box is one year. A green check means no EPA violations; a numbered badge counts that year's violations — red if any were health-based, amber if they were monitoring or paperwork issues. The system has 2 violations on record, including 1 health-based violation. 1 remains unresolved.
All ten of the last ten years were clean — no EPA violations recorded for Funkstown.
04Where Funkstown's water comes from
Funkstown's drinking water comes primarily from surface water sources such as rivers, lakes, or reservoirs.
Purchased Surface Water
Rivers, lakes, or reservoirs — more exposed to runoff, agriculture, and seasonal swings than groundwater.
Wholesale supplier
Multi-barrier treatment: coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection to meet EPA standards.
1 system
1 water system, operated under private ownership.
1,300 people
Residents served across Funkstown's service area.
Surface water systems require multi-stage treatment including coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection to meet EPA Safe Drinking Water Act standards. These sources can be impacted by seasonal changes, stormwater runoff, upstream agriculture, and industrial discharge. The system is operated by private ownership and serves approximately 1,300 people through 1 water system.
| System name | PWSID | Population | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| TOWN OF FUNKSTOWN DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM | MD0210008 | 1,300 | Purchased Surface Water |
Water bodies near Funkstown
As a surface-water system, these water bodies may directly influence Funkstown's drinking water supply.
05Pressure on Funkstown's watershed
Outside forces that shape what reaches the treatment plant. None of these is a verdict on the tap by itself — but each adds pressure worth knowing about.
Industrial discharge
5 facilities within 10 miles reported 0 lb released to surface water in the latest EPA Toxics Release Inventory. Proximity doesn't equal tap contamination — treatment and hydrology decide — but it's pressure on the watershed.
Flood & storm history
8 federal disaster declarations on record for Washington County. Flooding and severe storms can overwhelm treatment plants, cause sewage overflows, and push runoff into supplies.
Superfund proximity
1 National Priorities List site within 10 miles. Proximity does not necessarily indicate tap-water contamination — the connection depends on hydrology and treatment.
Drought
Washington County is in D2 (severe drought) per the U.S. Drought Monitor (week of Jul 2026). Drought can raise disinfection-byproduct levels and taste/odor issues as utilities draw from lower reservoirs.
06How Funkstown compares
Scores for nearby Maryland cities on one line, with the average marked.
dashed line = Maryland average (60/100)
Funkstown scores 85.8/100 — above the Maryland average of 60/100. It outscores 7 of 10 nearby cities. Full Maryland rankings →
95 / 100FBaltimore, MD
39.8 / 100FMillersville, MD
41.6 / 100CColumbia, MD
66 / 100FFrederick, MD
37.5 / 100FLa Plata, MD
39.5 / 100
Compare all cities in the county — grades, violations, and contaminant data side by side.→
07What to do at home
Steps matched to what testing actually found in Funkstown's water — not generic advice.
A basic carbon filter still helps
Funkstown's water meets federal standards, but a simple carbon filter improves taste and adds a margin of safety against short-term issues.
Compare tested filters →Read your utility's annual report
Every utility must publish a yearly Consumer Confidence Report with its own testing results. It pairs well with the independent data on this page.
How to read a CCR →Watch for Funkstown alerts
This area has a history of flood declarations — after severe weather, watch for boil-water advisories from the utility, and check the live alerts on this page.
All water alerts →Frequently asked questions
Is Funkstown, MD tap water safe to drink?
Funkstown's water quality earned a grade of A- (85.8/100). The water generally meets EPA standards and is considered safe for consumption. The city ranks #26 out of 107 cities tested in Maryland.
What contaminants are in Funkstown's water?
2 violations are on record.
How is Funkstown's water quality grade calculated?
The grade is based on four factors: violation history (40%), lead and copper levels (25%), PFAS contamination (25%), and regulatory compliance (10%). The score is also adjusted based on how complete the available data is. See our methodology page for full details.
Do I need a water filter in Funkstown?
Based on current data, basic filtration should suffice for additional peace of mind.
Where does Funkstown's water come from?
Funkstown's water is sourced from Purchased surface water. The city has 1 water system serving approximately 1,300 residents.
What health violations has Funkstown's water system had?
Funkstown has 1 health-based violation on record. The most recent violation was recorded in July 2013. Health-based violations mean the water exceeded EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for a regulated substance. 1 violation remains unresolved.
How does Funkstown's water compare to other cities?
Funkstown ranks #26 out of 107 cities in Maryland (better than 76% of state cities) and #5075 out of 15382 cities nationally (67th percentile). The grade of A- reflects the combined assessment of violation history, lead and copper levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.
Does Funkstown's small water system affect quality?
Funkstown's system serves approximately 1,300 residents. Small community water systems (under 3,300 people) may have fewer financial resources for infrastructure upgrades and advanced treatment technologies. However, they are held to the same EPA drinking water standards as larger systems. This system has 2 violations on record.