Water System Report MD

Town of La Plata

EPA ID: MD0080025 · 11,535 people served · 2 ZIP codes

Even as other utilities in the region logged violations, Town of La Plata kept a clean EPA record — five years, no issues, 11,535 people served.

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

11,535
People Served
2
ZIP Codes Served
0
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
0
Contaminants Flagged
$441K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Town of La Plata Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary

Service Area Demographics

$124,479
Median Household Income
34,326
Service Area Population
3%
Disadvantaged Population
20th
Poverty Percentile
40th
Energy Burden Percentile
29%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Town of La Plata serves a community with a median household income of $124,479 and an estimated 34,326 residents across its service area.

💧 Where Does Your Water Come From?

Groundwater

Town of La Plata'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
60th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 1% of homes in Charles 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 60th percentile nationally for proximity to Superfund (NPL) sites. Groundwater sources near contaminated sites may face elevated risk from industrial chemicals.

Infrastructure Risk

25 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
43 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Stable
Decay Status
Installed 37% 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. 3 detections recorded.

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

Ocean Pines
11,890 people
B 2 violations
Town of Mount Airy
9,890 people
D 7 violations
D 5 violations
Stevensville
9,155 people
B 9 violations
City of Havre De Grace
14,000 people
C 7 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance Radon Mitigation PFAS Treatment
Flood Insurance $1,200
Radon Mitigation $800
PFAS Treatment $250
Total Estimated Cost $2,250

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 $2,250 (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

Town of La Plata (EPA ID: MD0080025) is a community water system in Maryland that serves approximately 11,535 people from groundwater sources.

This system provides water to 2 ZIP codes across 2 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: Service area ZIP codes sourced from EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 (March 2026 release). These ZIPs reflect the actual deployment footprint recorded by MD or modeled from parcel and building-footprint data.

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Town of La Plata (MD0080025) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Town of La Plata water safe to drink?

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

How many people does Town of La Plata serve?

Town of La Plata serves approximately 11,535 people across 2 ZIP codes in Maryland.

Where does Town of La Plata get its water?

The primary water source is groundwater.

Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Tested Clean

This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). No PFAS compounds were detected.

Samples collected
261

Current MCL reflects the lowest state-enforceable limit (NYS 10 ppt for PFOA/PFOS, effective August 2020). The federal final MCL of 4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS (EPA April 2024 rule) is not enforceable until April 2029. Detections above 4 ppt but below 10 ppt are below current MCL but above the future federal limit.

Source: U.S. EPA UCMR5 (Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 5th cycle) — per-system federal sampling, 2023–2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program →

Understand PFAS health context and filtration →

Lead Service Line Inventory

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

0
Confirmed Lead
1
Galvanized — Replacement Required
367
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: 11,535
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 →

How Water Systems Appear in Rankings

Water systems are evaluated by violation history, contaminant detections, and service population. Larger systems with more service connections appear in more rankings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I use a water filter?
Town of La Plata meets EPA standards, but a water filter can reduce trace contaminants below detectable levels for added peace of mind.
How many people does Town of La Plata serve?
Town of La Plata serves approximately 11,535 people with drinking water across 2 ZIP codes.
What is Town of La Plata's water source?
Town of La Plata draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
What is the demographic profile of Town of La Plata's service area?
The Town of La Plata service area has a median household income of $124,479. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does Town of La Plata get its water?
Town of La Plata'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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