Monitoring Issues SCHOOL DISTRICT PFAS DETECTED

PFAS Detected in Water Systems Mapped to Montgomery County Public Schools (MD)

53 ZIP codes · 8 water systems · 1,967,895 people served

ZipCheckup's reading of EPA drinking-water data for water systems mapped to ZIP codes in Montgomery County Public Schools: 114 EPA violations recorded in EPA ECHO records at water systems mapped to the district's ZIP codes.

Data: ZipCheckup Home Safety Score model 4.0.0, EPA SDWIS and UCMR 5, EPA radon zones, EPA AirData, NCES

C · 66
Avg Safety Score (44 ZIP)
53
ZIP Codes
8
Water Systems
114
Violations (since 2021) (50 ZIP)
0.005 mg/L
Highest lead 90th percentile (district water systems)
44
ZIPs with PFAS
Zone 1
Radon Risk (53 ZIP)

Why School Water Quality Matters

Children drink more water per pound of body weight than adults, making them more vulnerable to contaminants. School water quality affects students for hours every weekday.

Home Safety and Water Evidence Overview

The Montgomery County Public Schools in Maryland spans 53 ZIP codes. This materialization has canonical Home Safety Scores for 44 ZIP records and typed EPA water violation counts for 50 ZIP records. Missing evidence is not treated as zero.

The deduplicated primary-system served-population sum is 1,967,895 across 4 water systems. This is not the district resident population.

The average Home Safety Score under model 4.0.0 across 44 scored ZIP records is C (66/100)

  • with the lowest-scoring area at 48/100 .

Water quality in this district falls in the bottom 67% nationally.

Why This Matters for Children

Children are more vulnerable to water contaminants than adults. The EPA and CDC identify these key risks:

  • Lead exposure - Even low levels of lead can affect brain development, reduce IQ, and cause behavioral problems in children. There is no safe level of lead for children.
  • PFAS ("forever chemicals") - Linked to immune system effects and developmental delays in children. Children drink more water relative to body weight than adults.
  • Nitrate - Dangerous for infants (can cause "blue baby syndrome"). Agricultural areas often have elevated nitrate.
  • Disinfection byproducts - Long-term exposure may increase cancer risk. School water fountains often have stagnant water that concentrates these compounds.

Lead Levels in the District

Metric Value EPA Threshold
Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results 0.0003 mg/L 0.015 mg/L
Highest lead level 0.005 mg/L 0.015 mg/L
ZIP records exceeding EPA action level 0 of 50 with known status -

PFAS Contamination

PFAS ("forever chemicals") detected in 44 ZIP records in this district. The aggregate does not treat ZIP records without PFAS evidence as tested negatives. One or more PFAS samples are above the value of an EPA maximum contaminant level (MCL compliance is based on running annual averages and is required from 2029).

Detected compounds: PFPeA, PFHxA, PFBA, PFHxS, PFOS, PFOA, PFHpA, PFBS.

Highest measured level: 0.0227 µg/L.

PFAS can accumulate in the body over time. Children's higher water intake relative to body weight makes them particularly susceptible. Reverse osmosis filters (NSF/ANSI 58) are the most effective at removing PFAS.

Learn more about PFAS in drinking water →

EPA Violation History

114 monitoring/reporting violations recorded. These are procedural violations (missed tests or late reports), not necessarily water safety issues.

Contaminants of Concern

Contaminant Category Violations Health-Based ZIPs Affected
Toxaphene Organic 10 No 8
Fluoride Inorganic 7 No 5
Endrin Organic 6 No 6
BHC-gamma (Lindane) Organic 6 No 6
Methoxychlor Organic 6 No 6
Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate Organic 6 No 6
Simazine Organic 6 No 6
Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate Organic 6 No 6

Radon Risk

51 of 53 ZIP records with known zones are in EPA Radon Zone 1. 2 of 53 ZIP records with known zones are in EPA Radon Zone 2.

The EPA recommends testing all homes regardless of radon zone. County radon zones cannot replace an in-home radon test.

Water Facts and Home Safety Score by ZIP Code

ZIP Code City Home Safety Score EPA Violations Health Lead Level Exceeds?
20850 Rockville C (61) 16 0 0 mg/L No
20851 Rockville C (61) 16 0 0 mg/L No
20852 Rockville C (61) 16 0 0 mg/L No
20853 Rockville C (61) 16 0 0 mg/L No
20854 Potomac C (61) 16 0 0 mg/L No
20855 Derwood C (61) 16 0 0 mg/L No
21771 Mount Airy D (48) 6 0 0.0014 mg/L No
20842 Dickerson N/A 4 0 0.005 mg/L No
21797 Woodbine N/A 4 0 0.0014 mg/L No
20837 Poolesville D (50) 2 0 0.005 mg/L No
20841 Boyds C (66) 2 0 0 mg/L No
20705 Beltsville B (83) 0 0 0 mg/L No
20707 Laurel B (83) 0 0 0 mg/L No
20812 Glen Echo C (67) 0 0 0 mg/L No
20814 Bethesda C (67) 0 0 0 mg/L No
20815 Chevy Chase C (67) 0 0 0 mg/L No
20816 Bethesda C (67) 0 0 0 mg/L No
20817 Bethesda C (67) 0 0 0 mg/L No
20818 Cabin John C (67) 0 0 0 mg/L No
20832 Olney C (67) 0 0 0 mg/L No
20833 Brookeville C (67) 0 0 0 mg/L No
20860 Sandy Spring C (67) 0 0 0 mg/L No
20861 Ashton C (67) 0 0 0 mg/L No
20862 Brinklow N/A 0 0 0 mg/L No
20866 Burtonsville C (67) 0 0 0 mg/L No
20868 Spencerville C (67) 0 0 0 mg/L No
20871 Clarksburg C (67) 0 0 0 mg/L No
20872 Damascus C (67) 0 0 0 mg/L No
20874 Germantown C (67) 0 0 0 mg/L No
20876 Germantown C (67) 0 0 0 mg/L No
20877 Gaithersburg C (67) 0 0 0 mg/L No
20878 Gaithersburg C (67) 0 0 0 mg/L No
20879 Gaithersburg C (67) 0 0 0 mg/L No
20880 Washington Grove C (67) 0 0 0 mg/L No
20882 Gaithersburg C (67) 0 0 0 mg/L No
20886 Montgomery Village C (67) 0 0 0 mg/L No
20889 Bethesda N/A 0 0 0 mg/L No
20892 Bethesda C (67) 0 0 0 mg/L No
20894 Bethesda N/A 0 0 0 mg/L No
20895 Kensington C (67) 0 0 0 mg/L No
20896 Garrett Park C (67) 0 0 0 mg/L No
20899 Gaithersburg N/A 0 0 0 mg/L No
20901 Silver Spring C (67) 0 0 0 mg/L No
20902 Silver Spring C (67) 0 0 0 mg/L No
20903 Silver Spring C (67) 0 0 0 mg/L No
20904 Silver Spring C (67) 0 0 0 mg/L No
20905 Silver Spring C (67) 0 0 0 mg/L No
20906 Silver Spring C (67) 0 0 0 mg/L No
20910 Silver Spring C (67) 0 0 0 mg/L No
20912 Takoma Park C (67) 0 0 0 mg/L No
20777 Highland N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
20838 Barnesville N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
20839 Beallsville N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

What Parents Can Do

  1. Request lead testing at your child's school - The EPA's 3Ts program (Training, Testing, Taking Action) provides guidance for schools. Ask your school board about their water testing schedule.
  2. Review the Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) - Your water utility publishes this annually. It details all detected contaminants.
  3. Test your home's water - Especially if your home has older plumbing (pre-1986) that may contain lead solder or lead pipes.
  4. Address PFAS - If PFAS are detected in your area, a reverse osmosis or activated carbon block filter certified for PFAS reduction (NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 lists the compounds covered, such as PFOA and PFOS) can reduce the compounds it is certified for.
  5. Pack water from home - If you're concerned about school water quality, send your child with a water bottle filled at home (filtered if possible).
  6. Stay informed - Bookmark this page to check for updates on water quality in your school district.

Need help with school water quality?

Typical cost: Water test: typically $20–$50 (DIY kit) · Professional inspection: $150–$400

Find the Right Water Filter

Free tip: Ask your water utility whether running cold water for 2 minutes is enough to flush your plumbing before drinking.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the water safe in Montgomery County Public Schools schools?

EPA system-level records show no health-based violations across 50 ZIP records with known health counts since 2021. No lead action-level exceedance is recorded among 50 ZIP records with known status. This does not establish safety at an individual school tap; request current building-level testing results.

Does Montgomery County Public Schools test for lead in school water?

Federal law does not require schools to test for lead in drinking water (except in some states with specific mandates). The EPA's voluntary 3Ts program encourages testing. Contact your school district office to ask about their testing schedule and results.

What level of lead is safe for children?

There is no safe level of lead for children, according to the CDC. The EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L (15 ppb) triggers corrective action for water systems, but the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that school water contain no more than 0.001 mg/L (1 ppb).

Are there PFAS in Montgomery County Public Schools water?

Yes, PFAS have been detected in 44 ZIP records associated with this district. ZIP records without PFAS evidence are not counted as tested negatives. PFAS are "forever chemicals" that do not break down and can accumulate in the body. The EPA has set maximum contaminant levels for certain PFAS compounds.

Data Sources

Updated daily.

Home → School Districts → Maryland → Montgomery County Public Schools

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (n.d.). PFAS Detected in Water Systems Mapped to Montgomery County Public Schools (MD). https://zipcheckup.com/schools/montgomery-county-public-schools-md/
BibTeX 
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  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{PFAS Detected in Water Systems Mapped to Montgomery County Public Schools (MD)}},
  year   = {n.d.},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/schools/montgomery-county-public-schools-md/}
}
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