Overview
EWG's drinking water quality report shows results of tests conducted by the water utility and provided to the Environmental Working Group by the Maryland Department of the Environment, as well as information from the U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History database (ECHO). For the latest quarter assessed by the U.S. EPA (April 2024 - June 2024), tap water provided by this water utility was in compliance with federal health-based drinking water standards.
Legal does not necessarily equal safe.
Getting a passing grade from the federal government does not mean the water meets the latest health guidelines.
Legal limits for contaminants in tap water have not been updated in almost 20 years.
The best way to ensure clean tap water is to keep pollution out of source water in the first place.
Contaminants Detected
Arsenic
Potential Effect: cancer
This Utility: 6.21 ppb
Legal Limit: 10 ppb
1,552x
EWG's Health Guideline: 0.004 ppb
Arsenic
Arsenic is a potent carcinogen and common contaminant in drinking water. Arsenic causes thousands of cases of cancer each year in the U.S. Click here to read more about arsenic.
Arsenic was found at 1,552 times above EWG's Health Guideline.
EWG Health Guideline
This Utility
Legal Limit
National Average
State Average
Health Risks
The EWG Health Guideline of 0.004 ppb for arsenic was defined by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment as a public health goal, the level of a drinking water contaminant that does not pose a significant health risk. This health guideline protects against cancer.
Understanding the Data
The state and national averages were calculated using the averages of the contaminant measurements for each utility in 2021-2023.
ppb = parts per billionPollution Sources
Agriculture
Industry
Naturally Occurring
Filtering Options
Reverse Osmosis
Ion Exchange
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Potential Effect: cancer
This Utility: 6.90 ppb
Legal Limit: 80 ppb
46x
EWG's Health Guideline: 0.15 ppb
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Trihalomethanes are cancer-causing contaminants that form during water treatment with chlorine and other disinfectants. The total trihalomethanes group includes four chemicals: chloroform, bromodichloromethane, dibromochloromethane and bromoform.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) was found at 46 times above EWG's Health Guideline.
EWG Health Guideline
This Utility
Legal Limit
National Average
State Average
Health Risks
The health guideline of 0.15 parts per billion, or ppb, for the group of four trihalomethanes, or THM4/TTHM, was defined in a peer-reviewed scientific study by EWG and represents a one-in-one-million lifetime cancer risk level.
Understanding the Data
The state and national averages were calculated using the averages of the contaminant measurements for each utility in 2021-2023.
ppb = parts per billionPollution Sources
Treatment Byproducts
Filtering Options
Activated Carbon
Reverse Osmosis
Includes chemicals detected in 2021-2023 for which annual utility averages exceeded an EWG-selected health guideline established by a federal or state public health authority.
† HAA5 is a contaminant group that includes monochloroacetic acid, dichloroacetic acid, trichloroacetic acid, monobromoacetic acid and dibromoacetic acid. HAA9 is a contaminant group that includes the chemicals in HAA5 and bromochloroacetic acid, bromodichloroacetic acid, chlorodibromoacetic acid and tribromoacetic acid. TTHM is a contaminant group that includes bromodichloromethane, bromoform, chloroform and dibromochloromethane.
2,4-DB
This Utility: 3.50 ppb
No Legal Limit
No EWG Health Guideline
2,4-DB
2,4-DB is a herbicide.
How your levels compare
This Utility
National Average
State Average
Understanding the Data
The state and national averages were calculated using the averages of the contaminant measurements for each utility in 2021-2023.
ppb = parts per billionPollution Sources
Agriculture
Barium
This Utility: 9.30 ppb
Legal Limit: 2,000 ppb
EWG's Health Guideline: 700 ppb
Barium
Barium is a mineral present in rocks, soil and water. High concentrations of barium in drinking water increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and hypertension.
How your levels compare
EWG Health Guideline
This Utility
Legal Limit
National Average
State Average
Health Risks
The EWG Health Guideline of 700 ppb for barium was defined by EWG as benchmark that protects against harm to the kidneys and the cardiovascular system.
Understanding the Data
The state and national averages were calculated using the averages of the contaminant measurements for each utility in 2021-2023.
ppb = parts per billionPollution Sources
Industry
Naturally Occurring
Filtering Options
Reverse Osmosis
Ion Exchange
Chloroform
This Utility: 0.520 ppb
No Legal Limit
EWG's Health Guideline: 0.4 ppb
Chloroform
Chloroform, one of the total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), is formed when chlorine or other disinfectants are used to treat drinking water. Chloroform and other disinfection byproducts increase the risk of cancer and may cause problems during pregnancy.
How your levels compare
EWG Health Guideline
This Utility
National Average
State Average
Health Risks
The EWG Health Guideline of 0.4 ppb for chloroform was based on the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment's public health goal, the level of a drinking water contaminant that does not pose a significant health risk. This health guideline protects against cancer and harm to fetal growth and development.
Understanding the Data
The state and national averages were calculated using the averages of the contaminant measurements for each utility in 2021-2023.
ppb = parts per billionPollution Sources
Treatment Byproducts
Filtering Options
Activated Carbon
Reverse Osmosis
Chromium (total)
This Utility: 2.80 ppb
Legal Limit: 100 ppb
No EWG Health Guideline
Chromium (total)
Chromium is a naturally occurring metal, but industrial uses can elevate its levels in water. One form, hexavalent chromium, causes cancer. Total chromium is not a good indicator of the amount of hexavalent chromium in drinking water.
How your levels compare
This Utility
Legal Limit
National Average
State Average
Understanding the Data
The state and national averages were calculated using the averages of the contaminant measurements for each utility in 2021-2023.
ppb = parts per billionPollution Sources
Industry
Naturally Occurring
Filtering Options
Reverse Osmosis
Ion Exchange
Fluoride
This Utility: 0.223 ppm
Legal Limit: 4 ppm
No EWG Health Guideline
Fluoride
Fluoride occurs naturally in surface and groundwater and is also added to drinking water by many water systems to prevent cavities and support oral health in people.
In 2015, the Department of Health and Human Services updated its recommendation of an optimal level of 0.7 parts per million, or ppm, added to drinking water based on the health benefits of tooth decay prevention. Studies have shown that fluoride added to community water systems at this level reduces dental cavities, especially in children.
And studies have conclusively shown that fluoride in toothpaste and mouthwash can also provide these benefits.
How your levels compare
This Utility
Legal Limit
National Average
State Average
Understanding the Data
The state and national averages were calculated using the averages of the contaminant measurements for each utility in 2021-2023.
ppm = parts per millionPollution Sources
Industry
Treatment Byproducts
Naturally Occurring
Filtering Options
Reverse Osmosis
Includes chemicals detected in 2021-2023 for which annual utility averages were lower than an EWG-selected health guideline established by a federal or state public health authority.
Other Contaminants Tested
✕Find A Filter
Explore filter options for each contaminant. See which technologies are effective at reducing specific contaminants to help you make an informed decision on the best water treatment solution for your needs.
| CONTAMINANTS ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES | activated carbon | reverse osmosis | ion exchange |
| Arsenic | |||
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) | |||
| OTHER CONTAMINANTS DETECTED | activated carbon | reverse osmosis | ion exchange |
| 2,4-DB | |||
| Barium | |||
| Chloroform | |||
| Chromium (total) | |||
| Fluoride |
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