Water System Report MD

Pine Hills

EPA ID: MD0070019 · 953 people served · 3 ZIP codes

Even as other utilities in the region logged violations, Pine Hills kept a clean EPA record — five years, no issues, 953 people served.

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02

953
People Served
3
ZIP Codes Served
0
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
0
Contaminants Flagged
$326K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Compliance Trajectory

Worsening · Risk tier: High · 95% chance of violation in next 12 months

Violations went from 2 (2023) to 10 (2025). The pattern suggests growing compliance challenges.

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Pine Hills Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary

Service Area Demographics

$84,608
Median Household Income
66,225
Service Area Population
14%
Disadvantaged Population
40th
Poverty Percentile
67th
Energy Burden Percentile
45%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Pine Hills serves a community with a median household income of $84,608 and an estimated 66,225 residents across its service area. Approximately 45% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

💧 Where Does Your Water Come From?

Groundwater

Pine Hills's water is pumped from underground aquifers. Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil, but it can be vulnerable to PFAS contamination, nitrates from agriculture, and industrial chemicals that seep into the water table.

Moderate Risk
Source Contamination Risk
20th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
70th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 1% of homes in Worcester County, Maryland rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.

Superfund Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 70th percentile nationally for proximity to Superfund (NPL) sites. Groundwater sources near contaminated sites may face elevated risk from industrial chemicals.

Infrastructure Risk

39 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
31 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Moderate Wear
Decay Status
Installed 56% of expected lifespan used End of life

PFAS Detected in Service Area

PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 9 detections recorded. 2 exceed federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS). 1 exceeds state limits.

State limits: PFOA: 0.01 ppt, PFOS: 0.01 ppt
Health concern: PFAS are linked to cancer, thyroid disease, immune suppression, and developmental effects. They do not break down naturally.
Recommended filter: Reverse osmosis (RO) or activated carbon filters certified for PFAS removal. Find the right filter →

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Maryland

Worton
955 people
0 violations
0 violations
Swan Point
945 people
C 22 violations
Prospect Bay
913 people
B 4 violations
B 0 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance Radon Mitigation PFAS Treatment Water Filtration
Flood Insurance $1,600
Radon Mitigation $400
PFAS Treatment $367
Water Filtration $300
Total Estimated Cost $2,667

Based on national averages for common remediation projects. Actual costs vary by property. Only issues flagged by EPA, FEMA, or state data for each ZIP code are included.

Cost of Inaction

If water quality issues in this service area are not addressed, the estimated financial impact per household is:

PFAS Exposure — Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$165
10 years
$330
20 years
$660

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $2,667 (one-time) vs. $330 in estimated inaction costs over 10 years.

Estimates based on published EPA, CDC, and peer-reviewed research. Individual costs vary by household size, property, and health factors. These are conservative lower-bound estimates intended for awareness, not financial advice.

System Overview

Pine Hills (EPA ID: MD0070019) is a community water system in Maryland that serves approximately 953 people from groundwater sources.

This system provides water to 3 ZIP codes across 3 communities.

Violation History

No violations recorded — This water system has no recorded EPA violations in the past 5 years.

Lead & Copper

No Lead and Copper Rule sampling data available for this water system.

Need help with your water quality?

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

Find the Right Water Filter

Free tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking — this helps flush lead from your pipes.

ZIP Codes Served

Coverage: 2 ZIP codes confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 1 additional ZIP inferred from SDWIS registry data. The EPA-confirmed set is the most reliable; SDWIS-inferred entries may be narrower than the real deployment area.

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Pine Hills (MD0070019) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Pine Hills water safe to drink?

Based on EPA records, Pine Hills has no recorded violations in the past 5 years — a positive indicator of water quality management.

How many people does Pine Hills serve?

Pine Hills serves approximately 953 people across 3 ZIP codes in Maryland.

Where does Pine Hills get its water?

The primary water source is groundwater.

Lead Service Line Inventory

Service line breakdown reported under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) inventory requirement:

152
Confirmed Lead
0
Galvanized — Replacement Required
151
Unknown Material
0
Confirmed Non-Lead

Federal LCRI rule (effective October 2024) requires every public water system to inventory its service lines and complete lead-line replacement within 10 years.

Federal Regulatory Status · 2026Q1
LCRR inventory submission: Reported all required service line types
Latest tap sample on 2021-01-01 did not exceed the federal lead action level.
Population served: 953
Reported to Maryland

Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Service Line Inventory (Phase 2) · Submitted 2026

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with the utility or state agency. Inventory figures render verbatim from the public LCRI submission cited above; ZipCheckup does not perform inspections or replacements.

Learn about lead in drinking water →

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I use a water filter?
Pine Hills meets EPA standards, but a water filter can reduce trace contaminants below detectable levels for added peace of mind.
How many people does Pine Hills serve?
Pine Hills serves approximately 953 people with drinking water across 3 ZIP codes.
What is Pine Hills's water source?
Pine Hills draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
What is the demographic profile of Pine Hills's service area?
The Pine Hills service area has a median household income of $84,608. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does Pine Hills get its water?
Pine Hills's water is pumped from underground aquifers. Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil, but it can be vulnerable to PFAS contamination, nitrates from agriculture, and industrial chemicals that seep into the water table. Based on available data, the source contamination risk is moderate.
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