Maryland Water Quality — 107 Cities Tested

Latest water news in Maryland

Recent reporting on Maryland drinking water — boil-water advisories, regulatory action, and infrastructure events.

Apr 24, 2026

DOJ and Maryland Sue D.C. Water Over 240-Million-Gallon Potomac Sewage Spill

Federal and state lawsuits target D.C. Water for the January Potomac Interceptor collapse. The utility allegedly knew the 72-inch pipe was corroding for years.

Read full story →

Analysis

Maryland water quality overview

Maryland's drinking water quality is fair overall, with an average score of 74.4 out of 100 across 107 cities tested. The median score is 79.7, serving a total population of 5,426,489 residents. 71% of cities earned an A or B grade, indicating broadly strong water quality infrastructure across the state. PFAS "forever chemicals" were detected in 36 of 107 cities tested (34%). 13 cities exceed the 2024 EPA maximum contaminant levels. The state relies on a mix of water sources: 79 cities use groundwater while 28 draw from surface water such as rivers, lakes, and reservoirs.

Key Concerns

Issues to watch in Maryland

36 cities

PFAS Detected

34% of tested cities have PFAS in their water supply.

91 cities

Health Violations

7,214 total violations recorded, 104 with unresolved issues.

9 cities

Failing Systems

Received a grade of F, indicating serious water quality issues.

Contaminant Data

Explore contaminants in Maryland

Lead in Maryland → Ranked by 90th percentile level (ppb) PFAS in Maryland → Ranked by compounds detected Copper in Maryland → Ranked by 90th percentile level (mg/L)

More contaminants tested in Maryland

HAA5 → Chromium-6 → Arsenic → Nitrate → Strontium → 1,4-Dioxane → Manganese → Vanadium → Chlorate → Molybdenum → Cobalt → Lithium → NDMA → Perchlorate →

State context

22

Superfund sites in Maryland

EPA National Priorities List

93.7%

of Maryland residents on fluoridated water

CDC, 2020

67,137

lbs released to surface water

Top 10 TRI facilities, 2023

8.2%

of Maryland domestic wells exceed EPA arsenic limit

USGS, 416 samples · 10 µg/L MCL

Domestic well chemistry

Private-well water in Maryland

Based on USGS Powell Domestic-Well Database — 1,755 private wells sampled across Maryland. These wells are not regulated by the EPA; if you draw your tap from a private well, the public-system grade above does not apply to you.

0.5 µg/L

Median arsenic in domestic wells

P90 7.2 µg/L · max 73.3 µg/L

34 µg/L

Median manganese in domestic wells

9.4% exceed 300 µg/L aesthetic limit

Industrial pollution

Top industrial water polluters in Maryland

Industrial polluters nearby

The 10 facilities reporting the most pounds released to surface water in Maryland, 2023.

Total reported releases to surface water: 67,137 lbs

Facility	Top chemical	To surface water (lbs/yr)
GRACE DAVISON-CURTIS BAY WORKS Chemicals · W R GRACE & CO BALTIMORE, MD21226	Nitrate compounds (water dissociable; reportable only when in aqueous solution)	50,503
VIBRANTZ SPECIALTY PRODUCTS LLC Chemicals · VIBRANTZ TECHNOLOGIES INC BALTIMORE, MD21226	Nitrate compounds (water dissociable; reportable only when in aqueous solution)	12,424
U.S. NAVY NAVAL SUPPORT FACILITY INDIAN HEAD Other · US DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE INDIAN HEAD, MD20640	Nitrate compounds (water dissociable; reportable only when in aqueous solution)	3,534
BRANDON SHORES & WAGNER COMPLEX Electric Utilities · TALEN ENERGY CORP CURTIS BAY, MD21226	Ammonia	154
S&G CONCRETE EDGEWOOD Nonmetallic Mineral Product · VULCAN MATERIALS CO EDGEWOOD, MD21040	Nitrate compounds (water dissociable; reportable only when in aqueous solution)	124

+ 5 more facilities

Source: EPA Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) 2023

Test your own tap

Get your Maryland water tested

City-level data shows the source and infrastructure picture — but lead and other home-plumbing issues only show up at your tap. Find a state-certified lab, see what to test for, and what it costs.

Grade Distribution

How Maryland cities scored

A: 31 B: 45 C: 17 D: 5 F: 9

Best Cities

Worst Cities

City Map

Water quality across Maryland

Each dot is a city, colored by its water quality grade. Size reflects population served. Click any city to view its full water report.

All Cities

107 cities in Maryland

Full rankings →

#	City	Grade	Score	Population	Violations
1	Fenwick Island	A+	99.9	2K	2
2	Bel Air	A+	96.1	5K	5
3	Laurel	A+	95	1.9M	2
4	St. Leonard	A	93.8	2K	22
5	Fort Meade	A	91.8	62K	21
6	Sherwood Forest	A	91.6	1K	3
7	Myersville	A	91	2K	13
8	Taneytown	A	90.8	7K	26
9	Abingdon	A	90	105K	11
10	Secretary	A-	89.8	535	41
11	Millington	A-	89.4	625	5
12	Chrisfield	A-	89.3	3K	5
13	Chesapeake Beach	A-	89.2	5K	2
14	Rantoul	A-	89.1	770	14
15	Walkersville	A-	89	8K	15
16	New Windsor	A-	89	2K	9
17	Brandywine	A-	89	780	11
18	Mountain Lake Park	A-	88.6	6K	4
19	Annapolis	A-	88	44K	20
20	Chesapeake City	A-	87.8	673	12
21	Easton	A-	87.5	17K	24
22	Port Republic	A-	87.5	1K	14
23	Patuxent River	A-	86.7	22K	58
24	Brunswick	A-	86.7	7K	18
25	Grantsville	A-	86.2	885	7
26	Funkstown	A-	85.8	1K	2
27	Union Bridge	A-	85.7	997	5
28	Dunkirk	A-	85.5	9K	17
29	Hebron	A-	85.5	1K	52
30	Rock Hall	A-	85.1	2K	10
31	Woodsboro	A-	85.1	846	27
32	Snow Hill	B+	84.7	2K	30
33	Delmar	B+	84.5	5K	48
34	Sharptown	B+	84.4	625	35
35	Cumberland	B+	83.5	39K	23
36	Pittsville	B+	83.5	2K	24
37	Timonium	B+	83.3	1K	14
38	St Michaels	B+	83.2	3K	44
39	Willards	B+	82.9	4K	20
40	Urbana	B+	82.7	2K	10
41	Thurmont	B+	82.6	6K	50
42	Queenstown	B+	82.4	705	25
43	Hampstead	B+	81.8	7K	9
44	Preston	B+	81.8	750	17
45	Perry Point	B+	81.7	2K	126
46	Lexington Park	B+	81.1	892	20
47	Manchester	B+	80.9	5K	57
48	North Beach	B+	80.9	3K	12
49	Bowie	B+	80.5	25K	3
50	Cambridge	B+	80.2	16K	23
51	Aberdeen	B	79.8	33K	11
52	Smithsburg	B	79.8	4K	34
53	Hancock	B	79.8	2K	14
54	Lavale	B	79.7	6K	18
55	Hurlock	B	79.4	2K	11
56	Crofton	B	79.4	830	88
57	Westernport	B	79.1	2K	18
58	Middletown	B	78.6	4K	31
59	Centreville	B	78.5	3K	49
60	Oxford	B	78.3	726	21
61	Poolesville	B	76.8	6K	49
62	Emmitsburg	B	75.9	4K	83
63	Lusby	B	75.7	10K	21
64	Jessup	B	75.4	1K	46
65	Prince Frederick	B	75	14K	78
66	Princess Anne	B	75	4K	94
67	Ridgely	B-	74.2	2K	37
68	Street	B-	73.3	643	144
69	Grasonville	B-	73.3	556	24
70	Severn	B-	73.2	2K	17
71	Pocomoke City	B-	72	4K	19
72	Denton	B-	71.5	5K	134
73	Huntingtown	B-	70.6	526	52
74	Leonardtown	B-	70.5	5K	66
75	Lothian	B-	70.5	3K	50
76	Indian Head	B-	70.3	9K	100
77	Boonsboro	C+	69.6	5K	98
78	Williamsport	C+	69	4K	51
79	Lonaconing	C+	67.9	5K	39
80	Mount Airy	C+	66.6	10K	120
81	Oakland	C+	66.6	6K	114
82	Glen Arm	C+	66.3	818	92
83	Columbia	C+	66	287K	140
84	Fruitland	C+	65.2	7K	144
85	Chestertown	C	64.8	8K	174
86	Stevensville	C	64.5	13K	57
87	Federalsburg	C	63.4	3K	89
88	Havre De Grace	C	62.2	15K	98
89	Gaithersburg	C	60.8	805	66
90	Hagerstown	C	60.5	95K	116
91	California	C-	59.6	60K	77
92	Ocean City	C-	57.9	30K	134
93	Sykesville	C-	57.8	2K	53
94	Greensboro	D+	52.3	2K	69
95	Berlin	D	47.9	24K	252
96	Perryville	D	45	5K	281
97	Waldorf	D	45	3K	282
98	Ellicott City	D	45	939	453
99	Millersville	F	41.6	388K	99
100	North East	F	41	10K	504
101	Baltimore	F	39.8	1.6M	84
102	La Plata	F	39.5	107K	183
103	Westminster	F	39.5	63K	128
104	Frederick	F	37.5	147K	205
105	Port Deposit	F	36	1K	372
106	Salisbury	F	32.2	31K	82
107	Elkton	F	32.1	18K	182

Counties

Browse Maryland counties

Allegan 1 city · avg 60.8 Allegany 4 cities · avg 77.5 Anne Arundel 9 cities · avg 79.3 Baltimore 2 cities · avg 74.8 Baltimore City 1 city · avg 39.8 Calvert 7 cities · avg 81.8 Caroline 5 cities · avg 68.6 Carroll 8 cities · avg 74 Cecil 8 cities · avg 60 Champaign 2 cities · avg 85.9 Charles 3 cities · avg 51.6 Dorchester 3 cities · avg 83.1 Frederick 8 cities · avg 78.3 Garrett 3 cities · avg 80.5 Harford 3 cities · avg 77.3 Howard 2 cities · avg 55.5 Kent 3 cities · avg 79.8 Montgomery 2 cities · avg 85.9 Prince George'S 2 cities · avg 84.8 Queen Anne'S 4 cities · avg 74.7 Somerset 2 cities · avg 82.2 St. Mary'S 4 cities · avg 74.5 Sussex 1 city · avg 99.9 Talbot 3 cities · avg 83 Washington 6 cities · avg 74.1 Wicomico 6 cities · avg 72.5 Williamson 1 city · avg 79.4 Worcester 4 cities · avg 65.6

ZIP Codes

Browse Maryland by ZIP code

Look up water quality by ZIP code to find the systems serving your area.

View all Maryland ZIP codes →

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about Maryland's water

Is Maryland's tap water safe to drink?

Maryland's water quality varies by city. The statewide average grade is B- (74.4/100). 71% of cities scored an A or B, while 13% received a D or F. Check your specific city for detailed results.

Which Maryland cities have the best water quality?

The top-rated cities are Fenwick Island (A+), Bel Air (A+), Laurel (A+). These cities scored highest based on violation history, lead levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.

Which Maryland cities have the worst water quality?

The lowest-rated cities are Elkton (F), Salisbury (F), Port Deposit (F). We recommend residents in these areas consider water filtration and review their city's specific contaminant data.

How many Maryland cities have PFAS in their water?

36 out of 107 cities tested positive for PFAS "forever chemicals" (34%). 13 cities exceed the 2024 EPA maximum contaminant levels. Reverse osmosis or activated carbon filters can help reduce PFAS exposure.

Maryland Water Quality Report