COUNTY REPORT MD

Harford County, Maryland

15 ZIP codes · Avg score 49/100 · Grade D · Updated 2026-06-04

Although conditions vary by area, Harford County's 15 ZIP codes collectively show below-average water safety — health-based violations are documented throughout the county, and the overall grade reflects a pattern rather than isolated incidents.

How Harford County Compares

Harford County49/100
Maryland avg61/100
National avg68/100

How Harford County Compares

D
County Grade
49/100
Avg Safety Score
15
ZIP Codes
18
Water Systems

Harford County scores 12 points below the Maryland state average (61/100) and 19 points below the national average (68/100).

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-04

D
County Grade
49
Avg Safety Score
15
ZIP Codes
Best ZIP: 21154 (70/100)
Lowest ZIP: 21122 (35/100)
$348K
Median Home Value
$2,213
Avg Remediation (64% of home value)

ZIP Code Risk Map

Water Quality Map: Harford County, Maryland

Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.

A B C D F

Key Risk Factors

Health risk index: 12.4 (asthma 10.3%, diabetes 11.7%)

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $3,045, driven primarily by sea_level

Infrastructure: 0.351% avg pipe failure probability, 14% of ZIPs at high risk

58.7% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)

Violation History (2023–2024)

→ Stable trend

EPA violation counts by year across Harford County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.

2023
2 (2 health)
2024
5 (5 health)

Peak year: 2024 with 5 violations. Past 5 years: 7 total (7 health-based).

Source: EPA SDWIS historical violations. Data may lag 6–12 months for the most recent year.

County Health Indicators vs National Average

Asthma 10.3% (national: 8.9%)
Diabetes 11.7% (national: 10.5%)
Obesity 35.5% (national: 32.4%)

Black markers indicate national averages. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.

Infrastructure Overview

1984
Median Build Year
58.7%
Pre-1978 Housing
35%
Pipe Failure Probability
14%
ZIPs at High Infra Risk
Low
Lead Pipe Risk

Sources: Census ACS (housing age), EPA SDWIS (infrastructure risk model), state bridge inspection data.

Compound Risk Breakdown

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $3,045

Sea Level Rise $1,680/yr
Flood $760/yr
Energy Code Gap $348/yr

Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).

Housing Age Distribution

96,417 housing units in Harford County

Pre-1940 5%
1940–1959 11%
1960–1979 25%
1980–1999 37%
2000+ 21%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034 (Year Structure Built).

Water Safety Affordability

How much it costs to fix water issues relative to home values in Harford County

$348K
Median Home Value
$2,213
Est. Remediation Cost
0.6%
of Home Value
Remediation as % of home value low burden

Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Harford County, representing a small fraction of property value.

Remediation includes water filtration, lead abatement, radon mitigation, and flood protection where applicable. Source: Census ACS, EPA SDWIS.

Health Outcomes vs National Average

CDC PLACES data for Harford County residents

Asthma 10.3% (US avg: 8.9%)
Diabetes 11.7% (US avg: 11%)
Obesity 35.5% (US avg: 32.4%)

Black markers = national averages. Red = above national avg. Green = below. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.

Water Systems with Most Violations

Top 5 systems in Harford County ranked by EPA violation count.

# Water System Population Violations
1 Harford County D.p.w. 104,567 10
2 R & R Estates 85 8
3 Queens Castle Mobile Home Park 60 8
4 Clear View Mobile Home Park Llc 28 8
5 City of Aberdeen 18,006 7

18 total water systems serve Harford County.

All ZIP Codes in Harford County

15 ZIP codes tracked in Harford County.

# ZIP Code City Safety Score Grade Violations Home Value
1 21154 Street 70 B 1 $459K
2 21009 Abingdon 64 C 2 $335K
3 21034 Darlington 62 C 8 (3 health) $348K
4 21001 Aberdeen 60 C 0 $267K
5 21014 Bel Air 57 C 1 $408K
6 21078 Havre De Grace 56 C 7 (1 health) $356K
7 21017 Belcamp 53 D 0 $242K
8 21040 Edgewood 45 D 0 $231K
9 21005 Aberdeen Proving Ground 40 D 0
10 21010 Gunpowder 40 D 0
11 21027 Chase 40 D 0
12 21085 Joppa 40 D 0 $327K
13 21130 Perryman 40 D 0
14 21156 Upper Falls 40 D 0 $487K
15 21122 Pasadena 35 F 0 $412K

Recommended Buyer Guides for Harford County

If FEMA records flag flood-top-risk status or EPA samples show PFAS exceedances, the matching logic lifts emergency-water and PFAS-rated filtration into the recommendations — federal data drives the order, not retailer arrangements.

Overview

Harford County in Maryland covers 15 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of D (49/100).

5 of 15 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 4 health-based violations have been documented.

← Back to Maryland water quality report

Data Sources

Updated daily.

What You Can Do

Harford County has a grade of D. Here are steps to protect your household.

1

Test your tap water

Order a certified lab test kit ($20-$50) to check for lead, bacteria, and other contaminants specific to your ZIP code.

2

Consider a certified water filter

NSF-certified filters can remove most common contaminants. Match the filter to your test results for best protection. Try our filter matcher

3

Contact your water utility

Request the latest Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) from your water provider. It details exactly what was found in your water supply.

4

Check for lead in your home

58.7% of homes in this county were built before 1978. Older plumbing and solder can leach lead into drinking water, especially in the morning.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water safe in Harford County?
Harford County receives a grade of D. 2 of 15 ZIP codes have health-based violations. Independent water testing is recommended.
How many water systems serve Harford County?
Harford County is served by 18 public water systems that supply drinking water to residents across 15 ZIP codes.
What is the biggest environmental risk in Harford County?
The primary environmental risk factor in Harford County is sea_level. This contributes to an estimated additional annual cost of $3,045 per homeowner.
How old are homes in Harford County?
The median home build year in Harford County is 1984. 58.7% of homes were built before 1978, which means they may contain lead-based paint and older plumbing materials.
How does Harford County compare to Maryland?
Harford County has an average water safety score of 49/100, which is below the Maryland state average of 61/100.

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