Health Violations Found MD 1 HEALTH VIOLATION

Town of Chestertown

EPA ID: MD0140002 · 5,400 people served · 3 ZIP codes

Although 2 violations appeared on Town of Chestertown's record, all have been remedied — currently compliant, 5,400 served.

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

B · 83
Avg Safety Score
5,400
People Served
3
ZIP Codes Served
2
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
0.0012 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 3
Radon Risk · Low
1
Contaminants Flagged

Service Area Map

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

Service area boundary — Grade B

Service Area Demographics

$76,094
Median Household Income
13,533
Service Area Population
7%
Disadvantaged Population
27th
Poverty Percentile
60th
Energy Burden Percentile
61%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Town of Chestertown serves a community with a median household income of $76,094 and an estimated 13,533 residents across its service area. Approximately 61% 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

Town of Chestertown'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
17th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
33th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 1% of homes in Kent 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

51 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
17 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Moderate Wear
Decay Status
Installed 75% of expected lifespan used End of life

Detected Contaminants

How Town of Chestertown compares to EPA limits

What This Means For You

Stage 2 DBP Rule at 2 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Maryland

D 0 violations
B 2 violations
Town of Leonardtown
5,000 people
C 6 violations
C 2 violations
Midland-lonaconing
5,000 people
C 5 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance Water Filtration
Flood Insurance $900
Water Filtration $300
Total Estimated Cost $1,200

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:

Estimated Healthcare Costs $500

Annual per household (CDC est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$2,500
10 years
$5,000
20 years
$10,000

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $1,200 (one-time) vs. $5,000 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 Chestertown (EPA ID: MD0140002) is a community water system in Maryland that serves approximately 5,400 people from groundwater sources.

This system provides water to 3 ZIP codes across 2 communities.

Average Home Safety Score: B (83/100)

Based on water quality violations, lead levels, and radon risk across all ZIP codes served by this system.

Violation History

1 health-based violation recorded in the past 5 years. All violations have been resolved.

Recent Violations

Date Contaminant Type Status
October 17, 2024 Stage 2 DBP Rule Health-based Resolved
October 17, 2024 Stage 2 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 2 DBP Rule Treatment Failure 2 Yes

Lead & Copper

EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data for ZIP codes served by this system:

ZIP Code Lead Level Exceeds Limit Sample Date
21620 0.0012 mg/L No N/A
21690 0.0012 mg/L No N/A

Radon Risk in Service Area

Dominant radon zone for ZIP codes served by this system: Zone 3 (Low Risk)

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: 1 ZIP code confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 2 additional ZIPs 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 Town of Chestertown (MD0140002) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Town of Chestertown water safe to drink?

Town of Chestertown has recorded 1 health-based violation in the past 5 years. While the system is required to treat water to meet federal standards, you may want to consider additional precautions such as a certified water filter.

How many people does Town of Chestertown serve?

Town of Chestertown serves approximately 5,400 people across 3 ZIP codes in Maryland.

Where does Town of Chestertown get its water?

The primary water source is groundwater.

Water Source & Treatment

Where this water originates and how it's treated before reaching your tap.

Source
Groundwater
Drawn from underground aquifers via wells.
Disinfectant used
Chlorine

Source: TOWN OF CHESTERTOWN Consumer Confidence Report.

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility. Treatment and source data are sourced from the utility's published CCR filings.

Treatment regime

How this utility classifies its treatment process and what each reported treatment chemical does.

Treatment classification
Standard
Disinfection plus one or more treatment additives — typically corrosion control, pH adjustment, or fluoridation. Standard regime for utilities serving treated municipal water.

Watershed exposure sources reported

Land-use and natural conditions identified in the utility's source-water assessment as potential contamination sources upstream of treatment.

AgricultureIndustrial activitySeptic systemsUrban stormwater runoffMining

Treatment classification and chemical list sourced from TOWN OF CHESTERTOWN 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: Tested Clean

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

Samples collected
58

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 →

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

Is water from Town of Chestertown safe to drink?
Town of Chestertown earns a B safety grade with 2 violations in the past 5 years. Tap water meets EPA standards for most contaminants.
What contaminants are in Town of Chestertown's water?
Detected contaminants include Stage 2 DBP Rule. Each is compared against EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) in the detailed breakdown above.
Should I use a water filter?
Given 1 contaminant above EPA limits, a certified water filter can provide an extra layer of protection. The best type depends on specific contaminants in your water.
How many people does Town of Chestertown serve?
Town of Chestertown serves approximately 5,400 people with drinking water across 3 ZIP codes.
What is Town of Chestertown's water source?
Town of Chestertown draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Town of Chestertown's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.0012 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Town of Chestertown's service area?
The Town of Chestertown service area has a median household income of $76,094. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does Town of Chestertown get its water?
Town of Chestertown'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.

What You Can Do

1

Test your water

Home test kits can detect lead, bacteria, and other contaminants at your tap. Find the right filter →

2

Check your specific ZIP code

Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report →

3

Contact your utility

Town of Chestertown (EPA ID: MD0140002) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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