Harford County D.p.w.
EPA ID: MD0120016 · 104,567 people served · 14 ZIP codes
ZipCheckup's reading of EPA SDWIS for Harford County D.p.w. (MD0120016): 3 EPA violations in the last five years. Harford County D.p.w. recorded 3 EPA violations over the past five years, all of which have since been resolved - the utility is currently in compliance serving 104,567 residents.
Data: EPA SDWIS
Service Area Map
Coverage area for Harford County D.p.w. Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.
Service area boundary - Grade C
Service Area Demographics
The Harford County D.p.w. serves a community with a median household income of $117,017 and an estimated 243,246 residents across its service area. Approximately 53% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.
🌊 Where Does Your Water Come From?
Harford County D.p.w.'s water is drawn from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs. Surface water sources are more exposed to agricultural runoff, stormwater, and upstream discharges, but they typically receive more intensive treatment before reaching your tap.
Superfund Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 69th percentile nationally for proximity to Superfund (NPL) sites.
Infrastructure Risk
Detected Contaminants
How Harford County D.p.w. compares to EPA limits
What This Means For You
Lead at 1 mg/L (action level) exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.015 mg/L (action level). Brain damage in children, kidney & blood pressure in adults. Consider reverse osmosis filtration.
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.06 mg/L. Cancer risk; reproductive & developmental effects. Consider granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration.
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.08 mg/L. Bladder & rectal cancer risk; reproductive concerns. Consider granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration.
PFAS Detected in Service Area
PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 54 detections recorded. 12 exceed federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS).
Lead was detected in this water system. reverse osmosis filtration can reduce exposure.
Find a certified water filter →Comparable Water Systems
Similar-sized systems in Maryland
Estimated Remediation Costs
Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system
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.
System Overview
Harford County D.p.w. (EPA ID: MD0120016) is a community water system in Maryland that serves approximately 104,567 people from surface water sources.
This system provides water to 14 ZIP codes across 13 communities.
ZIP-Area Home Safety Context: C (59/100)
This is the average Home Safety Score for 10 of 14 service-area ZIP codes with all required score domains observed. It is not a grade for the water utility.
Model 4.0.0 uses SDWIS identity plus accepted ECHO SDWA lifecycle-based water compliance, the UCMR 5 PFAS MCL screen, EPA radon zone, and annual EPA AirData AQI across three equally weighted domains. Missing required evidence suppresses the score.
Violation History
Status breakdown for accepted records with record years 2021-2026: 3 resolved, 0 archived, 0 addressed, and 0 unaddressed. Under this source contract, current noncompliance is the sum of addressed and unaddressed records. Archived and resolved records are excluded from current noncompliance.
Recent Violations
| Date | Contaminant | Type | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 1, 2024 | Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Non-health-based | Resolved |
| July 1, 2024 | Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Non-health-based | Resolved |
| April 1, 2022 | Lead | Non-health-based | Resolved |
Contaminants Detected
The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead | Inorganic | 1 | No |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 1 | No |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 1 | No |
Lead & Copper
EPA Lead and Copper Rule evidence attributed directly to this water system:
| Lead Level | Exceeds Action Level | Sample Date |
|---|---|---|
| 0 mg/L | No | N/A |
No copper action-level exceedance record appears for this PWSID in the accepted LCR snapshot. This does not establish a clean copper measurement.
Radon Risk in Service Area
Dominant radon zone for ZIP codes served by this system: Zone 1 (High Risk)
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Need help with your water quality?
Typical cost: Water test: typically $20–$50 (DIY kit) · Professional inspection: $150–$400
Find the Right Water FilterFree 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.
- 21001 - Aberdeen
- 21005 - Aberdeen Proving Ground
- 21009 - Abingdon
- 21014 - Bel Air
- 21015 - Bel Air
- 21017 - Belcamp
- 21040 - Edgewood
- 21047 - Fallston
- 21050 - Forest Hill
- 21078 - Havre De Grace
- 21084 - Jarrettsville
- 21085 - Joppa
- 21087 - Kingsville
- 21130 - Perryman
Data Sources
This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Harford County D.p.w. (MD0120016) on EPA.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Harford County D.p.w. water safe to drink?
The accepted 2026Q2 ECHO snapshot shows no current noncompliance for Harford County D.p.w.; its 3 accepted 2021-2026 records are resolved or archived. Historical compliance status does not establish conditions at a specific tap.
How many people does Harford County D.p.w. serve?
Harford County D.p.w. serves approximately 104,567 people across 14 ZIP codes in Maryland.
Where does Harford County D.p.w. get its water?
The primary water source is surface water.
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.
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 →
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
How to cite this page
ZipCheckup. (n.d.). Harford County D.p.w. (MD): 3 EPA Violations. https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/md0120016/
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What You Can Do
Test your water
Home test kits can detect lead, bacteria, and other contaminants at your tap. Find the right filter →
Check your specific ZIP code
Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report →
Contact your utility
Harford County D.p.w. (EPA ID: MD0120016) - request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.