Health Concerns Found SCHOOL DISTRICT

St. Marys County Public Schools (MD): 5 Health-Based Violations in Water Systems Mapped to the District Area

27 ZIP codes · 19 water systems · 52,460 people served

ZipCheckup's reading of EPA drinking-water data for water systems mapped to ZIP codes in St. Marys County Public Schools: 5 health-based violations on record 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

B · 83
Avg Safety Score (1 ZIP)
27
ZIP Codes
19
Water Systems
102
Violations (since 2021) (15 ZIP)
0 mg/L
Highest lead 90th percentile (district water systems)
Zone 2
Radon Risk (27 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 St. Marys County Public Schools in Maryland spans 27 ZIP codes. This materialization has canonical Home Safety Scores for 1 ZIP records and typed EPA water violation counts for 15 ZIP records. Missing evidence is not treated as zero.

The deduplicated primary-system served-population sum is 52,460 across 5 water systems. This is not the district resident population.

The average Home Safety Score under model 4.0.0 across 1 scored ZIP records is B (83/100) .

Water quality in this district ranks better than 67% of ZIP codes 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 mg/L 0.015 mg/L
Highest lead level 0 mg/L 0.015 mg/L
ZIP records exceeding EPA action level 0 of 13 with known status -

EPA Violation History

5 health-based violations recorded across 15 ZIP records with known health counts since 2021. 15 of 15 ZIP records with known total counts have at least one violation.

Contaminants of Concern

Contaminant Category Violations Health-Based ZIPs Affected
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Disinfection Byproducts 49 No 15
Nitrate Inorganic 20 No 8
Lead and Copper Rule Revisions Treatment Technique 18 Yes 7
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Disinfection Byproducts 9 No 9
Lead and Copper Rule Treatment Technique 4 No 4
Fluoride Inorganic 1 No 1
Consumer Confidence Rule Reporting 1 No 1

Radon Risk

27 of 27 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?
20653 Lexington Park N/A 19 3 0 mg/L No
20650 Leonardtown N/A 13 0 0 mg/L No
20619 California N/A 12 1 0 mg/L No
20636 Hollywood N/A 11 0 0 mg/L No
20659 Mechanicsville N/A 11 0 0 mg/L No
20634 Great Mills N/A 9 1 0 mg/L No
20670 Patuxent River N/A 7 0 0 mg/L No
20667 Park Hall N/A 5 0 0 mg/L No
20621 Chaptico N/A 4 0 0 mg/L No
20624 Clements N/A 3 0 0 mg/L No
20622 Charlotte Hall B (83) 2 0 0 mg/L No
20656 Loveville N/A 2 0 0 mg/L No
20692 Valley Lee N/A 2 0 0 mg/L No
20620 Callaway N/A 1 0 N/A N/A
20630 Drayden N/A 1 0 N/A N/A
20606 Abell N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
20609 Avenue N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
20618 Bushwood N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
20626 Coltons Point N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
20628 Dameron N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
20660 Morganza N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
20674 Piney Point N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
20680 Ridge N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
20684 Saint Inigoes N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
20686 Saint Marys City N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
20687 Scotland N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
20690 Tall Timbers 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. 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).
  5. 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 St. Marys County Public Schools schools?

EPA system-level records associated with St. Marys County Public Schools show 5 health-based violations across 15 ZIP records with known health counts. These records do not measure individual school taps. Parents should request current building-level testing results from the school district.

Does St. Marys 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).

Data Sources

Updated daily.

Home → School Districts → Maryland → St. Marys County Public Schools

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (n.d.). St. Marys County Public Schools (MD): 5 Health-Based Violations in Water Systems Mapped to the District Area. https://zipcheckup.com/schools/st-marys-county-public-schools-md/
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  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{St. Marys County Public Schools (MD): 5 Health-Based Violations in Water Systems Mapped to the District Area}},
  year   = {n.d.},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/schools/st-marys-county-public-schools-md/}
}
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