Towson, MD: 2 Health Violations - Home Safety 64/100
3 ZIP codes · 1 water system · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Towson: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
Safe water is the norm across most of Towson, MD - but documented violations push the city to the middle safety tier.
How Towson Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Key Facts for Towson Residents
- Your city's water systems recorded 9 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0027 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 72% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $1,533 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 12.61 - above typical levels.
Towson's Water Providers
While 1 water system appear in federal records for Towson, MD, one provider supplies the majority of residential connections - making it the central point of infrastructure and compliance accountability for most households.
- C
Overview
We track home safety data for 3 ZIP codes in Towson, Maryland (population ~46,062), covering 1 community water system serving approximately 1,600,000 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 3 of 3 ZIP codes.
3 of 3 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (100%) have recorded EPA violations. 2 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Towson: C (64/100)
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
Towson water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0027 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 3 ZIP codes with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 2 (Moderate Risk)
- Zone 1 (High): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 2 (Moderate): 3 ZIP codes
- Zone 3 (Low): 0 ZIP codes
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contaminant 2020 | Other | 8 | 3 |
| Contaminant 2959 | Other | 8 | 3 |
| Lead | Inorganic | 4 | 3 |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 4 | 3 |
| Stage 2 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 4 | 3 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21204 | C | 9 | 2 | City of Baltimore |
| 21252 | — | 9 | 2 | City of Baltimore |
| 21286 | C | 9 | 2 | City of Baltimore |
All ZIP Codes in Towson
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.
Towson Community Health Snapshot
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
What's in Towson's Water?
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Towson Infrastructure Age
With 72% 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
The median home in Towson was built in 1972 - a figure that places most of the city's residential stock in the era when lead solder was still standard in copper plumbing. Homes built before 1986 may have lead-soldered joints; those built before 1970 face the additional possibility of lead pipes in the service line itself.
Over half of homes in Towson 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.
How Remediation Costs Compare in Towson
Because property values in Towson comfortably exceed estimated remediation costs, the equity impact here is proportionally small.
Remediation costs in Towson are relatively low compared to home values. The $733–$2,533 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 34% above the Maryland average.
Towson: Lead Risk & Vulnerable Populations
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.
Despite citywide averages serving as the standard public reference point, those aggregates cannot resolve what is happening at one specific faucet - and where 72% of Towson homes come from before the solder rule or where utility samples sit at or above the action mark, the gap between system data and faucet reality matters more than it does in lower-exposure communities. An in-home draw closes that gap, with certified filtration through retailer networks available where confirmed faucet results warrant additional measures.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Towson: NFIP Claim Records and Water-Quality Context
Historical NFIP data for Towson contains 70 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $21,652. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 50% 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 <strong>$1,533</strong> 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 Towson
- 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. Filters rated for Contaminant 2020 can reduce the most common contaminant found in Towson's water.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 72% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Towson, MD