Monitoring Violations MD

Town of Poolesville

EPA ID: MD0150002 · 6,005 people served · 4 ZIP codes

Tallying the federal enforcement file for Town of Poolesville yields 1 open violation that have not been formally closed — each finding sits in the EPA database while the utility continues to deliver water to approximately 6,005 residents and works through the required corrective action process.

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

D · 51
Avg Safety Score
6,005
People Served
4
ZIP Codes Served
2
Violations (5yr)
Surface Water
Water Source
0.005 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 1
Radon Risk · High
2
Contaminants Flagged
$740K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Compliance Trajectory

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

Violations went from 2 (2023) to 1 (2024). Violation counts have remained relatively steady.

Service Area Map

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

Service area boundary — Grade D

Service Area Demographics

$175,333
Median Household Income
18,520
Service Area Population
12%
Disadvantaged Population
20th
Poverty Percentile
20th
Energy Burden Percentile
57%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Town of Poolesville serves a community with a median household income of $175,333 and an estimated 18,520 residents across its service area. Approximately 57% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

🌊 Where Does Your Water Come From?

Surface Water

Town of Poolesville'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.

Elevated Risk
Source Contamination Risk
20th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
50th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 1% of homes in Montgomery 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

42 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
25 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Moderate Wear
Decay Status
Installed 63% of expected lifespan used End of life

Detected Contaminants

How Town of Poolesville compares to EPA limits

Lead 1 mg/L (action level) (EXCEEDS LIMIT)
0 EPA Limit: 0.015 mg/L (action level)
Brain damage in children, kidney & blood pressure in adults
Nickel 1 mg/L (secondary standard: 2.0 mg/L) (25% of limit)
0 EPA Limit: 4 mg/L (secondary standard: 2.0 mg/L)
Tooth & bone damage at high levels

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.

PFAS Detected in Service Area

PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 10 detections recorded. 2 exceed federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS).

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 →

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

Mystic Harbour
5,945 people
0 violations
City of Fruitland
5,907 people
B 2 violations
Town of Thurmont
6,200 people
D 0 violations
Bryans Road
6,260 people
C 0 violations
B 2 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Radon Mitigation Flood Insurance PFAS Treatment
Radon Mitigation $900
Flood Insurance $900
PFAS Treatment $275
Total Estimated Cost $2,075

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.)

PFAS Exposure — Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$2,665
10 years
$5,330
20 years
$10,660

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $2,075 (one-time) vs. $5,330 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 Poolesville (EPA ID: MD0150002) is a community water system in Maryland that serves approximately 6,005 people from surface water sources.

This system provides water to 4 ZIP codes across 4 communities.

Average Home Safety Score: D (51/100)

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

Violation History

2 monitoring/reporting violations recorded. These are procedural violations (missed tests or late reports), not necessarily water safety issues.

Contaminants Detected

The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:

Contaminant Category Violations Health-Based
Nickel Inorganic 1 No
Lead Inorganic 1 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
20837 0.005 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 Filter

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

ZIP Codes Served

Coverage: 3 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 Town of Poolesville (MD0150002) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Town of Poolesville water safe to drink?

Town of Poolesville has only monitoring/reporting violations, which are procedural in nature. The system meets federal health-based standards.

How many people does Town of Poolesville serve?

Town of Poolesville serves approximately 6,005 people across 4 ZIP codes in Maryland.

Where does Town of Poolesville get its water?

The primary water source is surface water.

Water Source & Treatment

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

Source
Groundwater
Drawn from underground aquifers via wells.

Source: TOWN OF POOLESVILLE Consumer Confidence Report.

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

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.

Samples collected
551
Detections
42
Latest sample
11/10/2025
Highest analyte
PFPeA: 15.1 ppt
Analyte Max detected Current MCL Status
PFPeA 15.1 ppt
PFHxA 9.8 ppt
PFBA 8.9 ppt
PFHxS 6.9 ppt 10 ppt Below current MCL
PFOS 6.5 ppt 10 ppt Above 2029 federal MCL
PFHpA 5.4 ppt

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
0
Galvanized — Replacement Required
91
Unknown Material
0
Confirmed Non-Lead

This system reports zero confirmed lead service lines in its inventory. Unknown-material counts may still warrant verification.

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 2016-01-01 did not exceed the federal lead action level.
Population served: 6,005
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

Is water from Town of Poolesville safe to drink?
Town of Poolesville has a D safety grade based on 2 recorded violations. Some contaminants may exceed EPA limits — independent testing is recommended.
What contaminants are in Town of Poolesville's water?
Detected contaminants include Lead, Nickel. 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 Poolesville serve?
Town of Poolesville serves approximately 6,005 people with drinking water across 4 ZIP codes.
What is Town of Poolesville's water source?
Town of Poolesville draws water from surface water sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Town of Poolesville's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.005 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Town of Poolesville's service area?
The Town of Poolesville service area has a median household income of $175,333. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does Town of Poolesville get its water?
Town of Poolesville'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. Based on violation history and environmental factors, the source contamination risk is currently elevated.

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 Poolesville (EPA ID: MD0150002) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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