Lead Contamination

Lead in Maryland Drinking Water

Ranked by 90th percentile lead level (ppb) · Data from EPA SDWIS & UCMR

106

Cities Tested

Exceeds Limit

% Exceeds Limit

1.4 ppb

State Avg

▼ 2% vs national

vs National

Health Violations

Analysis

Lead in Maryland: what the data shows

Maryland has 106 cities with lead monitoring data, with no cities exceeding the EPA action level of 15 ppb. The state average 90th percentile lead level is 1.4 ppb, compared to 3.3 ppb nationally — better than the national average. No cities in Maryland currently exceed the 15 ppb lead action level. However, even levels below the action level can pose health risks, particularly for infants and young children. If your home was built before 1986, consider testing your tap water directly. The 90th percentile measurement means that 90% of tap samples in a city are at or below the reported level. This is the standard EPA uses under the Lead and Copper Rule to determine if a water system needs to take corrective action. An NSF 53-certified pitcher or under-sink filter can effectively remove lead at the tap.

Comparison

Cities exceeding 15 ppb EPA Action Level

Maryland

0 of 106 cities

← ▼ 2% below national rate (better)

National avg

378 of 15681 cities

City Map

Lead data across Maryland

Each dot is a city, colored by overall water quality grade. Cities with lead levels above the 15 ppb EPA action level are highlighted. Size reflects population served.

Worst Offenders

Top 10 cities by lead level in Maryland

Highest Lead levels (ppb)

All Cities

All Maryland cities ranked by lead level

#	City	Level	Exceeds?	Violations	Grade
1	Stevensville	11.0 ppb	No	6	C
2	Oxford	10.4 ppb	No	4	B
3	Lothian	10.0 ppb	No	3	B-
4	Port Deposit	10.0 ppb	No	31	F
5	Hurlock	6.7 ppb	No	3	B
6	Fruitland	5.8 ppb	No	14	C+
7	Severn	5.3 ppb	No	3	B-
8	Poolesville	5.0 ppb	No	3	B
9	Centreville	5.0 ppb	No	5	B
10	Millersville	4.5 ppb	No	13	F
11	Thurmont	4.0 ppb	No	4	B+
12	Union Bridge	4.0 ppb	No	3	A-
13	Smithsburg	3.9 ppb	No	19	B
14	Pittsville	3.7 ppb	No	5	B+
15	Rock Hall	3.5 ppb	No	0	A-
16	Princess Anne	3.1 ppb	No	2	B
17	Taneytown	3.0 ppb	No	2	A
18	New Windsor	2.8 ppb	No	3	A-
19	Grantsville	2.7 ppb	No	0	A-
20	Waldorf	2.4 ppb	No	8	D
21	Myersville	2.4 ppb	No	11	A
22	Hancock	2.4 ppb	No	2	B
23	Westminster	2.2 ppb	No	29	F
24	Baltimore	2.0 ppb	No	12	F
25	Havre De Grace	2.0 ppb	No	13	C
26	Hampstead	2.0 ppb	No	2	B+
27	Willards	2.0 ppb	No	1	B+
28	Sykesville	2.0 ppb	No	23	C-
29	Ellicott City	2.0 ppb	No	56	D
30	Indian Head	1.9 ppb	No	2	B-
31	Jessup	1.9 ppb	No	1	B
32	St Michaels	1.8 ppb	No	9	B+
33	Fenwick Island	1.8 ppb	No	0	A+
34	Williamsport	1.8 ppb	No	8	C+
35	Hagerstown	1.7 ppb	No	42	C
36	St. Leonard	1.5 ppb	No	0	A
37	Brandywine	1.5 ppb	No	0	A-
38	Mount Airy	1.4 ppb	No	4	C+
39	Chestertown	1.2 ppb	No	3	C
40	Manchester	1.2 ppb	No	4	B+
41	Delmar	1.1 ppb	No	13	B+
42	Rantoul	1.1 ppb	No	1	A-
43	Columbia	1.0 ppb	No	50	C+
44	Cumberland	1.0 ppb	No	4	B+
45	North East	1.0 ppb	No	95	F
46	Mountain Lake Park	1.0 ppb	No	1	A-
47	Lavale	1.0 ppb	No	3	B
48	Lonaconing	1.0 ppb	No	9	C+
49	Boonsboro	1.0 ppb	No	23	C+
50	Chrisfield	1.0 ppb	No	1	A-
51	Street	1.0 ppb	No	2	B-
52	Ocean City	0.9 ppb	No	15	C-
53	Prince Frederick	0.8 ppb	No	4	B
54	Sherwood Forest	0.6 ppb	No	0	A
55	Laurel	0.0 ppb	No	0	A+
56	Frederick	0.0 ppb	No	18	F
57	La Plata	0.0 ppb	No	10	F
58	Abingdon	0.0 ppb	No	0	A
59	Fort Meade	0.0 ppb	No	3	A
60	California	0.0 ppb	No	2	C-
61	Annapolis	0.0 ppb	No	3	A-
62	Aberdeen	0.0 ppb	No	0	B
63	Salisbury	0.0 ppb	No	26	F
64	Bowie	0.0 ppb	No	1	B+
65	Berlin	0.0 ppb	No	6	D
66	Elkton	0.0 ppb	No	42	F
67	Easton	0.0 ppb	No	6	A-
68	Cambridge	0.0 ppb	No	3	B+
69	Lusby	0.0 ppb	No	3	B
70	Dunkirk	0.0 ppb	No	1	A-
71	Walkersville	0.0 ppb	No	10	A-
72	Brunswick	0.0 ppb	No	4	A-
73	Oakland	0.0 ppb	No	80	C+
74	Bel Air	0.0 ppb	No	0	A+
75	Leonardtown	0.0 ppb	No	5	B-
76	Chesapeake Beach	0.0 ppb	No	0	A-
77	Perryville	0.0 ppb	No	48	D
78	Denton	0.0 ppb	No	13	B-
79	Middletown	0.0 ppb	No	6	B
80	Emmitsburg	0.0 ppb	No	44	B
81	Pocomoke City	0.0 ppb	No	12	B-
82	North Beach	0.0 ppb	No	2	B+
83	Federalsburg	0.0 ppb	No	9	C
84	Snow Hill	0.0 ppb	No	4	B+
85	Westernport	0.0 ppb	No	5	B
86	Perry Point	0.0 ppb	No	18	B+
87	Greensboro	0.0 ppb	No	1	D+
88	Ridgely	0.0 ppb	No	5	B-
89	Urbana	0.0 ppb	No	0	B+
90	Port Republic	0.0 ppb	No	0	A-
91	Timonium	0.0 ppb	No	3	B+
92	Hebron	0.0 ppb	No	28	A-
93	Crofton	0.0 ppb	No	0	B
94	Glen Arm	0.0 ppb	No	9	C+
95	Gaithersburg	0.0 ppb	No	29	C
96	Preston	0.0 ppb	No	2	B+
97	Queenstown	0.0 ppb	No	2	B+
98	Chesapeake City	0.0 ppb	No	0	A-
99	Millington	0.0 ppb	No	0	A-
100	Sharptown	0.0 ppb	No	20	B+
101	Grasonville	0.0 ppb	No	2	B-
102	Secretary	0.0 ppb	No	15	A-
103	Huntingtown	0.0 ppb	No	7	B-
104	Patuxent River	-2.0 ppb	No	2	A-
105	Lexington Park	-5.0 ppb	No	2	B+
106	Woodsboro	-5.0 ppb	No	1	A-

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about lead in Maryland

Is lead in Maryland tap water a concern?

Currently, no cities in Maryland exceed the 15 ppb EPA lead action level. The state average is 1.4 ppb. Even below the action level, lead poses health risks especially for children and pregnant women. If your home was built before 1986, consider testing your tap water directly.

How can I reduce lead exposure from Maryland tap water?

Use an NSF 53-certified water filter, which is specifically certified to reduce lead. Run your cold tap for 30 seconds before drinking or cooking, especially if water has been sitting in pipes for hours. Never use hot tap water for cooking or making baby formula, as heat increases lead leaching from pipes.

Which Maryland cities have the highest lead levels?

The cities with the highest 90th percentile lead levels in Maryland are: Stevensville (11.0 ppb), Oxford (10.4 ppb), Lothian (10.0 ppb), Port Deposit (10.0 ppb), Hurlock (6.7 ppb). See the full ranked table above.

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