Potomac, MD: 16 Violations - Home Safety 61/100
2 ZIP codes · 2 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Potomac: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
Potomac lands in the middle of the grade scale in MD; EPA records can differ from one service area to the next.
How Potomac Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Potomac Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 16 violations since 2021.
- Estimated remediation: $500 per household.
- Health risk index (ZipCheckup composite of CDC data): 10.24.
Water Systems Serving Potomac
More than one public water system is linked to Potomac, MD: federal records tie 2 systems to the area, and the 2 with the largest reported service populations are shown below. Which of them supplies a particular address depends on where the property sits, and a water bill or the utility can confirm it.
- C
- C
Overview
We track home safety data for 2 ZIP codes in Potomac, Maryland (population ~49,694), covering 2 community water systems serving approximately 1,952,000 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 1 of 2 ZIP codes.
1 of 1 ZIP code with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (100%) have recorded EPA violations. The available record reports no health-based violations for this measured scope.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Potomac: C (61/100)
Model 4.0.0 uses four measured components across three equally weighted domains. If a required domain is unavailable, no score is published:
| Factor | What It Measures |
|---|---|
| Water Quality | EPA violations and compliance history |
| PFAS MCL Screen | UCMR 5 testing against the covered federal MCLs |
| Radon Risk | EPA radon zone classification |
| Annual AQI | EPA AirData county-year median with at least 90 observed days |
Water Sources
Potomac water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: reported as 0 mg/L (a reported 0 is not proof of no lead; check the source record for its reporting limit) (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 1 ZIP code with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
2 of 2 ZIP records with known zones are in EPA Radon Zone 1.
The EPA recommends testing all homes regardless of radon zone. County radon zones cannot replace an in-home radon test.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Endrin | Organic | 2 | 1 |
| BHC-gamma (Lindane) | Organic | 2 | 1 |
| Methoxychlor | Organic | 2 | 1 |
| Toxaphene | Organic | 2 | 1 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate | Organic | 2 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20854 | C | 16 | 0 | Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission |
All ZIP Codes in Potomac
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Lead/copper: EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data
- Radon: EPA Map of Radon Zones
Reporting periods vary by source. Missing data is shown as unavailable, not as zero.
CDC Health Data for Potomac
Source: CDC PLACES (County-level estimates). County health indicators are shown for context only and are not linked to this area's water records.
Compared to National Average
Vertical line = national average. ■ Above national · ■ Below national
Key Contaminants Detected in Potomac
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Potomac: Remediation Cost in Perspective
In Potomac, estimated remediation comes to 1% or less of the median home value.
Estimated remediation costs in Potomac can be compared with local home values. The $300–$800 estimated range can be set against the median property value; actual costs vary by home. Home values are 159% above the Maryland average.
Historical Flood-Claim Evidence for Potomac
Historical NFIP data for Potomac contains 53 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $18,338. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 0% have an A- or V-family dominant rated zone recorded in those historical claims. This is not a complete current FEMA property-map inventory.
How flooding affects water quality: Flood events can introduce sewage, agricultural runoff, and industrial chemicals into water supplies. Even after floodwaters recede, contamination can persist in wells and aging infrastructure. The $500 remediation estimate shown here excludes flood insurance and is not derived from NFIP claim count.
Claim count does not establish current property risk. Check the exact address in FEMA's current map and obtain a property-specific insurance quote when relevant.
Source: historical FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claim records. No current FEMA property-map designation is asserted.
What You Can Do in Potomac
- Test your water at home. City-level data shows averages - your tap may differ. Check the certification, price and turnaround time of any water test kit or lab service.
- Install a certified water filter. For Endrin, listed in the water-quality records for Potomac: if it is a rule or reporting requirement rather than a contaminant, ask your utility what the record involved; for bacteria, follow any boil-water notice from your utility; for a specific chemical contaminant, check whether a filter is certified to reduce it. Not every contaminant has a consumer filter certification.
- Check your home's plumbing. Homes built before 1986 may have lead solder in pipes. A licensed plumber can assess your risk.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Potomac, MD