Howard County D.p.w. Distribution
EPA ID: MD0130002 · 286,158 people served · 17 ZIP codes
Howard County D.p.w. Distribution carries 6 resolved violations in the five-year EPA record — each has been formally closed, and the supplier, which serves approximately 286,158 people, now meets all applicable federal drinking water standards with no open enforcement activity remaining.
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02
Compliance Trajectory
Worsening · Risk tier: High · 95% chance of violation in next 12 months
Violations went from 1 (2021) to 12 (2024). The pattern suggests growing compliance challenges.
Service Area Map
Coverage area for Howard County D.p.w. Distribution Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.
Service area boundary — Grade C
Service Area Demographics
The Howard County D.p.w. Distribution serves a community with a median household income of $133,321 and an estimated 381,084 residents across its service area.
🌊 Where Does Your Water Come From?
Howard County D.p.w. Distribution'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.
About 1% of homes in Anne Arundel County, Maryland rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.
Infrastructure Risk
Detected Contaminants
How Howard County D.p.w. Distribution compares to EPA limits
What This Means For You
Stage 1 DBP Rule at 2 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Surface Water Treatment Rule at 2 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Consumer Confidence Report Rule at 2 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
PFAS Detected in Service Area
PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 18 detections recorded. 1 exceeds federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS).
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
Howard County D.p.w. Distribution (EPA ID: MD0130002) is a community water system in Maryland that serves approximately 286,158 people from surface water sources.
This system provides water to 17 ZIP codes across 14 communities.
Average Home Safety Score: C (56/100)
Based on water quality violations, lead levels, and radon risk across all ZIP codes served by this system.
Violation History
Recent Violations
| Date | Contaminant | Type | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 1, 2025 | Surface Water Treatment Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| March 1, 2025 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| June 1, 2024 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| January 1, 2023 | Stage 1 DBP Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
Contaminants Detected
The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Failure | 2 | No |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Failure | 2 | No |
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting Failure | 2 | No |
Lead & Copper
EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data for ZIP codes served by this system:
| ZIP Code | Lead Level | Exceeds Limit | Sample Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21044 | 0.003 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 21045 | 0.003 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 21046 | 0.003 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 20723 | 0.00105 mg/L | No | N/A |
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.
- 20701 — Annapolis Junction
- 20723 — Laurel
- 20759 — Fulton
- 20763 — Savage
- 20794 — Jessup
- 21029 — Clarksville
- 21042 — Ellicott City
- 21043 — Ellicott City
- 21044 — Columbia
- 21045 — Columbia
- 21046 — Columbia
- 21075 — Elkridge
- 21076 — Hanover
- 21104 — Marriottsville
- 21163 — Woodstock
- 21784 — Sykesville
- 21794 — West Friendship
Data Sources
This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Howard County D.p.w. Distribution (MD0130002) on EPA.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Howard County D.p.w. Distribution water safe to drink?
Howard County D.p.w. Distribution has only monitoring/reporting violations, which are procedural in nature. The system meets federal health-based standards.
How many people does Howard County D.p.w. Distribution serve?
Howard County D.p.w. Distribution serves approximately 286,158 people across 17 ZIP codes in Maryland.
Where does Howard County D.p.w. Distribution get its water?
The primary water source is surface water.
Contact Your Water Utility
Public-record contact information for the water utility serving this system. Use these channels to request water quality reports, ask about service, or report issues directly.
Contact information from Howard County Department of Public Works Consumer Confidence Report.
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility, does not act as its agent, and does not provide customer support for it. Contact details shown are public-record information from CCR filings. For service issues, contact the utility directly using the information above.
Water Source & Treatment
Where this water originates and how it's treated before reaching your tap.
Source: Howard County Department of Public Works Consumer Confidence Report.
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility. Treatment and source data are sourced from the utility's published CCR filings.
The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) has also completed a Source Water Assessment of the water supplies that serve Baltimore City and WSSC.
Treatment regime
How this utility classifies its treatment process and what each reported treatment chemical does.
Treatment chemicals and what each one does
Chemical names are reported verbatim by the utility. Purpose categories are ZipCheckup annotations based on standard drinking-water treatment practice.
Treatment classification and chemical list sourced from Howard County Department of Public Works Consumer Confidence Report.
Treatment intensity is a ZipCheckup-derived classification based on the chemicals and processes the utility reports. Chemicals and contamination sources are taken verbatim from the utility's CCR filing. Routine federal monitoring and contaminant testing shown elsewhere on this page determine whether the water meets safety standards, not the treatment classification.
Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Detected
This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). PFAS compounds were detected below the current state-enforceable MCL.
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 →
PFAS Substances Detected in This System
This water system's Consumer Confidence Report disclosed the following PFAS compounds. Levels are from the utility's most recent reporting cycle.
In April 2024, EPA finalized the first National Primary Drinking Water Regulation for six PFAS. Public water systems have until 2029 to comply. EPA — PFAS regulation overview →
Source: Consumer Confidence Report disclosed by Howard County Department of Public Works.
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility. PFAS detection data is sourced from public Consumer Confidence Reports filed by the utility itself.
Lead Service Line Inventory
Service line breakdown reported under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) inventory requirement:
Federal LCRI rule (effective October 2024) requires every public water system to inventory its service lines and complete lead-line replacement within 10 years.
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.
Notable events and violations
This section summarizes events the utility chose to disclose in its most recent Consumer Confidence Report, plus any federal compliance violations the utility recorded against itself. Both lists are utility-authored — ZipCheckup does not audit, judge, or reorder them.
Notable events from the utility's CCR
These bullet entries are the utility's own narration of operational, regulatory, or infrastructure events during the reporting period.
- On September 28, 2023 a minimal amount of cryptosporidium was detected in a routine test of the water in the Druid Lake Drinking Water Reservoir conducted by Baltimore City Department of Public Works.
ZipCheckup note: items above reflect what the utility published in its most recent CCR. Federal violation records are also tracked separately by the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) — the SDWIS record is the authoritative federal source for any specific regulatory action.
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
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
Howard County D.p.w. Distribution (EPA ID: MD0130002) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.