Spencerville, MD: High Radon Risk — 40/100 (2026)
1 ZIP code · 2 water systems · Updated 2026-06-03
Drinking water quality in Spencerville has lagged behind MD benchmarks — documented violations keep the safety grade low.
How Spencerville Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
Spencerville Water: The Quick Version
- Homes built before 1986: 95% — older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $1,700 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 10.24.
Water Systems Serving Spencerville
Water delivery in Spencerville, MD is handled by 2 utilities rather than a single system — drawn from 2 providers in federal records, each filing its own compliance reports and setting its own rates.
Overview
We track water quality and home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Spencerville, Maryland (population ~384), covering 2 community water systems serving approximately 1,901,248 people region-wide.
No EPA violations recorded across any ZIP codes in Spencerville — an excellent indicator of water quality.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Spencerville: D (40/100)
The score combines three factors:
| Factor | What It Measures |
|---|---|
| Water Quality | EPA violations and compliance history |
| Lead Levels | 90th percentile lead concentration vs EPA action level |
| Radon Risk | EPA radon zone classification |
Water Sources
Spencerville water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Lead data: not yet available for Spencerville
- 0 ZIP codes exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 1 (High Risk)
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Areas with No Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | System | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20868 | D | WASHINGTON SUBURBAN SANITARY COMMISSION | 1,900,000 |
All ZIP Codes in Spencerville
- 20868 [D]
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
Updated daily.
CDC Health Data for Spencerville
Source: CDC PLACES (County-level estimates). Water contamination can correlate with respiratory and chronic health conditions.
Compared to National Average
Vertical line = national average. ■ Above national · ■ Below national
How Old Is Spencerville's Housing Stock?
With 95% of homes built before 1986, lead solder in plumbing is a potential concern. The EPA banned lead solder in 1986, but many older homes retain original plumbing.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).
Housing Age Profile
Heavily weighted toward older construction, Spencerville's housing stock carries a median build year of 1965. That profile puts a majority of homes in the era when lead-soldered copper plumbing was standard practice.
Over half of homes in Spencerville were built before 1986, when lead solder was banned. Older plumbing may leach lead into drinking water, especially with corrosive water chemistry.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.
Spencerville: Remediation Cost in Perspective
Because property values in Spencerville comfortably exceed estimated remediation costs, the equity impact here is proportionally small.
Remediation costs in Spencerville are relatively low compared to home values. The $1,100–$2,300 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 32% above the Maryland average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Spencerville
Why children are most at risk: The CDC states there is no safe level of lead exposure for children. Children under 6 absorb lead more readily than adults, and even low levels can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems.
Older stock in Spencerville represents 95% of the inventory, and citywide monitoring runs at or above the federal action level — making an in-home read a standard household-level step.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
What You Can Do in Spencerville
- Test your water at home. City-level data shows averages — your tap may differ. NSF-certified test kits cost $20-40 and give results in days.
- Install a certified water filter. An NSF-certified pitcher or under-sink filter removes most common contaminants.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 95% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
- Review your water system's CCR. Your utility publishes an annual Consumer Confidence Report with detailed test results. Request it or find it online.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Spencerville, MD