Maryland Water Quality Report: 1,135 Violations Across 615 ZIPs
601 water systems · 615 ZIP codes · 1,135 violations · Updated 2026-05-31
Data: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS), EPA ECHO Last verified: 2026-05-31
City Water Quality Map: Maryland
Each circle represents a city. Size indicates population, color indicates water quality grade. Tap a circle for details.
Violation Trend
EPA violations across all water systems in Maryland.
Cities with Most Violations in Maryland
| # | City | Grade | Violations | Systems | Population | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baltimore | B | 550 | 5 | 1,601,403 | Details → |
| 2 | Ocean City | B | 22 | 4 | 30,127 | Details → |
| 3 | Newburg | B | 22 | 4 | 406 | Details → |
| 4 | Greensboro | A | 21 | 2 | 1,905 | Details → |
| 5 | Ridgely | A | 20 | 2 | 1,900 | Details → |
| 6 | Columbia | A | 18 | 2 | 286,458 | Details → |
| 7 | Frederick | C | 18 | 5 | 140,974 | Details → |
| 8 | Tylerton | C | 18 | 5 | 409 | Details → |
| 9 | Salisbury | C | 16 | 5 | 31,218 | Details → |
| 10 | Perryville | C | 15 | 3 | 4,472 | Details → |
Cities with Best Water Quality in Maryland
Most Common Contaminants in Maryland
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected | Health Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 2 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 305 | 134 | Yes |
| Lead | Inorganic | 86 | 80 | No |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 80 | 73 | Yes |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 78 | 44 | Yes |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 65 | 43 | No |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 53 | 53 | No |
| Contaminant 2384 | Other | 50 | 50 | No |
| Nickel | Inorganic | 28 | 26 | No |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 18 | 13 | Yes |
| Contaminant 2959 | Other | 8 | 8 | No |
Water Quality Overview
Maryland has 601 community water systems serving approximately 60,786,467 people across 615 ZIP codes. These systems have accumulated 1,135 EPA violations, including 229 health-based violations.
Health-based violations account for 20% of all violations in Maryland. These violations indicate contaminant levels that may pose direct risks to human health, as opposed to monitoring or reporting failures.
Violation Breakdown
| Violation Type | Count | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Health-based | 229 | 20.2% |
| Monitoring/Reporting | 906 | 79.8% |
| Total | 1,135 | 100% |
Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeding EPA Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs). Monitoring violations indicate failures to test or report — these do not necessarily mean unsafe water, but they mean the water was not properly verified.
Cities with Most Violations
The following cities in Maryland have the highest number of EPA violations:
| Rank | City | Grade | Violations | Water Systems | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baltimore | B | 550 | 5 | 1,601,403 |
| 2 | Ocean City | B | 22 | 4 | 30,127 |
| 3 | Newburg | B | 22 | 4 | 406 |
| 4 | Greensboro | A | 21 | 2 | 1,905 |
| 5 | Ridgely | A | 20 | 2 | 1,900 |
| 6 | Columbia | A | 18 | 2 | 286,458 |
| 7 | Frederick | C | 18 | 5 | 140,974 |
| 8 | Tylerton | C | 18 | 5 | 409 |
| 9 | Salisbury | C | 16 | 5 | 31,218 |
| 10 | Perryville | C | 15 | 3 | 4,472 |
Violation counts are cumulative across all water systems serving each city. Higher counts may reflect larger systems with more monitoring requirements, not necessarily worse water quality.
Cities with Best Water Quality
These Maryland cities maintain Grade A water with zero violations:
| Rank | City | Grade | Score | Water Systems | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Delmar | A | 95/100 | 5 | 5,038 |
| 2 | Hebron | A | 95/100 | 1 | 1,022 |
| 3 | Easton | A | 92/100 | 2 | 17,392 |
Violation Trend Over Time
Year-by-year EPA violations recorded across all water systems in Maryland:
| Year | Total Violations | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 29 | 29 |
| 2022 | 105 | 105 |
| 2023 | 44 | 44 |
| 2024 | 361 | 361 |
| 2025 | 50 | 50 |
Violations have increased from 29 in 2021 to 50 in 2025. This trend warrants monitoring and may reflect expanded testing requirements rather than worsening quality.
Most Common Contaminants
The following contaminants have caused the most violations across Maryland water systems:
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 2 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 305 | 134 | Yes |
| Lead | Inorganic | 86 | 80 | No |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 80 | 73 | Yes |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 78 | 44 | Yes |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 65 | 43 | No |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 53 | 53 | No |
| Nickel | Inorganic | 28 | 26 | No |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 18 | 13 | Yes |
| E. coli | Microbiological | 7 | 5 | No |
| Chlorite | Disinfection Byproducts | 4 | 3 | Yes |
How to Check Your Water in Maryland
Enter your ZIP code on ZipCheckup for detailed water system data including contaminant levels, violation history, and safety scores
Request your CCR — every water utility must provide an annual Consumer Confidence Report
Get a home test — certified kits ($20-$50) or professional lab tests ($150-$400)
Consider filtration — NSF-certified filters can address specific contaminants found in your area
EPA Enforcement
The EPA and state regulators have taken 3,492 enforcement actions against water systems in Maryland. Enforcement actions range from compliance assistance to formal orders and penalties.
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Enforcement: EPA ECHO
Updated daily.
What are EPA violations?
Health-based violations mean a contaminant was detected above the EPA's Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) — the legal limit designed to protect human health. Maryland has 229 such violations across its water systems. Not all violations cause illness, but repeated exceedances increase risk, especially for children and immunocompromised individuals.
Understanding water quality grades
ZipCheckup grades water systems from A to F based on EPA violation history, contaminant levels, and system compliance. Grade A means few or no violations; Grade F indicates persistent or serious issues. Grades are calculated per ZIP code and aggregated at the city, county, and state level.
Wondering about your tap water?
Water quality varies by ZIP code. Enter yours to see contaminant data, violations, and filtration recommendations specific to your area.
Check Your ZIP Code Water Quality →Frequently Asked Questions
Is the tap water safe to drink in Maryland?
Maryland has 601 community water systems with 1,135 recorded EPA violations, including 229 health-based. Water quality varies by city and ZIP code — check your specific location for detailed results.
How many water violations does Maryland have?
Maryland has 1,135 total EPA violations across 615 ZIP codes. 229 are health-based violations that indicate contaminant levels potentially harmful to human health. The remainder are monitoring or reporting violations.
Which city in Maryland has the worst water quality?
Baltimore, MD has the most EPA violations among major cities in Maryland with 550 recorded violations. Check individual ZIP codes for the most accurate picture of your local water quality.
Which city in Maryland has the best water quality?
Delmar, MD ranks among the best for water quality in Maryland with a grade of A. Multiple cities in Maryland maintain strong EPA compliance records.
What contaminants are found in Maryland drinking water?
Maryland water systems are monitored for over 90 EPA-regulated contaminants including lead, copper, nitrates, disinfection byproducts, and bacteria. The most common violations vary by region — check your ZIP code for contaminant-specific data.