01The verdict: is Mountain Lake Park water safe?
Mountain Lake Park's tap water meets most EPA standards but has areas that warrant attention. With a grade of A- (88.6/100), some contaminant levels or compliance issues suggest that residents may benefit from additional filtration. The city's 3 water systems serve approximately 5,935 residents using groundwater (wells).
2 unresolved violations on record
EPA records show open compliance items for this system. Most are administrative, but unresolved items are worth watching.
See what was cited ↓Lead is well under the limit
90th-percentile lead is 1.0 ppb — beneath the 15 ppb federal action level and under the 5 ppb watch threshold.
See the trend ↓A flood-prone service area
6 federal disaster declarations on record. After severe weather, watch for boil-water advisories.
See the risk factors ↓Mountain Lake Park's drinking water received a grade of A- (88.6 out of 100), indicating good water quality. The city's 3 water systems serve approximately 5,935 residents using groundwater.
Lead levels were measured at 1.0 ppb (90th percentile), well within EPA limits. This system has not yet been tested for PFAS under the EPA UCMR 5 program. The system has 4 violations on record, including 1 health-based violation. 2 remain unresolved.
Mountain Lake Park ranks #18 out of 107 cities in Maryland for water quality, placing it above average in the state. Mountain Lake Park relies on groundwater, which is generally less vulnerable to surface contamination but can be affected by naturally occurring minerals like arsenic and nitrate, as well as agricultural and industrial runoff.
02What's in Mountain Lake Park's water
Every contaminant flagged in Mountain Lake Park, 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.
Full contaminants report
| Contaminant | Detected Level | EPA Limit | Unit | Category | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lead (90th percentile) LeadHeavy Metal A toxic heavy metal that can leach into drinking water from older pipes, solder, and fixtures. No amount of lead in water is considered safe. Health EffectsBrain and nervous system damage in children, kidney damage, high blood pressure, and reproductive problems in adults. EPA Limit15 ppb action level Common SourcesCorrosion of lead pipes, lead solder, brass faucets, and household plumbing. | 1.0 | 15 | ppb | Inorganic | Safe |
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
03Mountain Lake Park'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 4 violations on record, including 1 health-based violation. 2 remain unresolved.
All ten of the last ten years were clean — no EPA violations recorded for Mountain Lake Park.
▼ Down 7 ppb since 1993. Latest reading: 1 ppb (2017) — 7% of the action level. Sampled at higher-risk homes (90th percentile).
04Where Mountain Lake Park's water comes from
Mountain Lake Park's drinking water is drawn from underground aquifers through wells.
Groundwater
Underground aquifers reached by wells — naturally filtered, but can carry minerals like arsenic and nitrate.
Local treatment
Groundwater generally needs less treatment — typically disinfection and, where needed, mineral removal.
3 systems
3 water systems, operated under local government ownership.
5,935 people
Residents served across Mountain Lake Park's service area.
Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil layers, generally requiring less treatment than surface water. However, it can contain naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, radon, and minerals. Agricultural activity, septic systems, and industrial operations near well fields can introduce nitrates, pesticides, and volatile organic compounds. The system is operated by local government ownership and serves approximately 5,935 people through 3 water systems.
| System name | PWSID | Population | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| DEEP CREEK LAKE WATER SERVICE AREA | MD1111096 | 5,502 | Groundwater |
| TOWN OF KITZMILLER | MD0110013 | 370 | Groundwater |
| KEYSERS RIDGE | MD0110025 | 63 | Groundwater |
Water bodies near Mountain Lake Park
These water bodies shape the regional watershed and can indirectly affect groundwater quality.
05Pressure on Mountain Lake Park'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.
Flood & storm history
6 federal disaster declarations on record for Garrett County. Flooding and severe storms can overwhelm treatment plants, cause sewage overflows, and push runoff into supplies.
06How Mountain Lake Park compares
Scores for nearby Maryland cities on one line, with the average marked.
dashed line = Maryland average (60/100)
Mountain Lake Park scores 88.6/100 — 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 Mountain Lake Park's water — not generic advice.
A basic carbon filter still helps
Mountain Lake Park'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 Mountain Lake Park 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 Mountain Lake Park, MD tap water safe to drink?
Mountain Lake Park's water quality earned a grade of A- (88.6/100). The water generally meets EPA standards and is considered safe for consumption. The city ranks #18 out of 107 cities tested in Maryland.
What contaminants are in Mountain Lake Park's water?
Lead was measured at 1.0 ppb (90th percentile). 4 violations are on record.
How is Mountain Lake Park'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 Mountain Lake Park?
Based on current data, basic filtration should suffice for additional peace of mind.
Where does Mountain Lake Park's water come from?
Mountain Lake Park's water is sourced from Groundwater. The city has 3 water systems serving approximately 5,935 residents.
What health violations has Mountain Lake Park's water system had?
Mountain Lake Park has 1 health-based violation on record. The most recent violation was recorded in July 2008. Health-based violations mean the water exceeded EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for a regulated substance. 2 violations remain unresolved.
Is Mountain Lake Park's groundwater at risk of contamination?
Mountain Lake Park uses groundwater, which can be affected by naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, radon, and nitrate, as well as agricultural runoff and industrial activity. The system has 4 violations on record that may relate to groundwater quality. Groundwater systems are generally less susceptible to surface contamination but should be monitored for emerging contaminants like PFAS.
How does Mountain Lake Park's water compare to other cities?
Mountain Lake Park ranks #18 out of 107 cities in Maryland (better than 83% of state cities) and #3322 out of 15382 cities nationally (78th percentile). The grade of A- reflects the combined assessment of violation history, lead and copper levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.