Drinking water quality · 2024
What's in City of Baltimore, MD tap water
17 contaminants were measured in the City of Baltimore, MD water system's 2024 annual report. Each is shown below against its federal limit — 1 sit at or above that limit.
- Reporting year
- 2024
- Contaminants measured
- 17
- Over federal limit
- 1
- Approaching the limit
- 0
- Worst contaminant
- Radium 226 228
- Service area
- MD
PFAS — EPA UCMR5 (2023–2025)
1 PFAS compound detected in City of Baltimore, MD
The EPA finalized the first-ever federal drinking-water limits for six PFAS compounds in April 2024. These numbers come straight from EPA's UCMR5 lab dataset — every U.S. system serving more than 3,300 people tested every PFAS sample at an entry point to its distribution system. PFAS not listed below were either tested and not detected, or not yet sampled.
PFPeA
● Detected (no federal limit)Where your water comes from · EPA SDWIS
City of Baltimore, MD's drinking water comes from surface water, drawn from 3 sources.
Source
- LIBERTY RESERVOIR
- LOCH RAVEN
- SUSQUEHANNA
Treatment
- ASHBURTON FILTER PLANT
- MONTEBELLO FILTER PLANT 1 + 2
Distribution
Compliance history
Federal Safe Drinking Water Act violation & enforcement records (EPA SDWIS). A violation is a regulatory determination by the state or EPA — separate from the measured levels above.
- Maximum contaminant level exceededHealth-based4 violations on record · most recent Sep 2022resolved
- Treatment technique violationHealth-based2 violations on record · most recent Apr 2009resolved
Source: EPA SDWIS / ECHO. View the full federal record on EPA ECHO ↗
Other
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Radium 226 228 | 0.2–16 pCi/LRangeSystem-wide | 5 pCi/LMCL | At or above the limit |
PFAS ("forever chemicals")
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| PFOSPerfluorooctanesulfonic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical' once used in firefighting foam and coatings. | 2.43 ng/LMaximumAshburton Plant | 4 ng/LMCL | Within the limit |
+By source (2)— Ashburton Plant, Montebello Plants
| |||
| PFOAPerfluorooctanoic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical' once used in nonstick and stain-resistant products. | 2.17 ng/LMaximumAshburton Plant | 4 ng/LMCL | Within the limit |
+By source (2)— Ashburton Plant, Montebello Plants
| |||
| Perfluorohexanesulfonic acidPerfluorohexanesulfonic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical.' | 2.45 ng/LMaximumAshburton Plant | None set | Within the limit |
+By source (2)— Ashburton Plant, Montebello Plants
| |||
| Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acidHFPO-DA ('GenX chemicals'), a newer-generation PFAS replacement compound. | 0.25 ng/LMaximumAshburton Plant | 10 ng/LMCL | Within the limit |
+By source (2)— Ashburton Plant, Montebello Plants
| |||
| Perfluorononanoic acidPerfluorononanoic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical.' | Not detected ng/LMaximumAshburton Plant | None set | None detected |
+By source (2)— Ashburton Plant, Montebello Plants
| |||
| Perfluorobutanesulfonic acidPerfluorobutanesulfonic acid, a shorter-chain PFAS 'forever chemical.' | 1.64 ng/LMaximumAshburton Plant | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
+By source (2)— Ashburton Plant, Montebello Plants
| |||
Metals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Antimony | 2.87 ug/LMaximumMontebello Plants | None set | Within the limit |
+By source (2)— Montebello Plants, Ashburton Plant
| |||
| LeadA toxic metal that leaches into water from old service lines, solder, and plumbing fixtures. | 0.00274 mg/L90th percentileAt the tap | 0.015 mg/LAction level | Within the limit |
| CopperA metal that enters water from corroding household plumbing. | 112 ug/L90th percentileAt the tap | None set | Within the limit |
| BariumA metal from erosion of natural deposits and industrial discharge. | 0.0395 mg/LMaximumMontebello Plants | 2 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
+By source (2)— Montebello Plants, Ashburton Plant
| |||
| ArsenicA naturally occurring element that also enters water from industry and agriculture. | Not detected mg/LMaximumAshburton Plant | None set | None detected |
+By source (2)— Ashburton Plant, Montebello Plants
| |||
Disinfectants
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChlorineA disinfectant added to drinking water to kill bacteria and viruses. | 1.24 mg/LMaximumMontebello Plants | 4 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
+By source (2)— Montebello Plants, Ashburton Plant
| |||
Inorganic chemicals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| FluorideA mineral often added to drinking water to help prevent tooth decay. | 1.17 mg/LMaximumMontebello Plants | 4 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
+By source (2)— Montebello Plants, Ashburton Plant
| |||
| NitrateA compound from fertilizer runoff, septic systems, and erosion of natural deposits. | 1.7 mg/LMaximumMontebello Plants | 10 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
+By source (2)— Montebello Plants, Ashburton Plant
| |||
Microbial
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total ColiformA group of bacteria used as an indicator of overall water-system sanitation. | 0.33 %Highest single sampleMonthly Percentage of Samples with Total Coliform Present | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
People also ask about City of Baltimore, MD's water
+Is City of Baltimore, MD tap water safe to drink in 2024?
The 2024 Consumer Confidence Report for the City of Baltimore, MD water utility lists 1 contaminant at or above the federal limit: Radium 226 228. Whether that means the water is "unsafe" depends on which contaminant, how long the exposure, and individual health factors. The table on this page shows the measured value, the federal threshold, and the regulated statistic used for compliance.
+What contaminants are in City of Baltimore, MD tap water?
17 contaminants were measured in City of Baltimore, MD's 2024 Consumer Confidence Report, spanning pfas ("forever chemicals"), metals, and inorganic chemicals. 9 have an enforceable federal limit; the rest are detected but unregulated. Every measured value, in the utility's own units, is on this page.
+Which contaminants exceed federal limits in City of Baltimore, MD tap water?
One contaminant in City of Baltimore, MD's 2024 report sits at or above the federal limit: Radium 226 228 (3.2× the limit). The EPA enforces these limits against the regulated reporting statistic — typically a running annual average or 90th percentile — not a one-off sample spike.
+What is the worst contaminant in City of Baltimore, MD tap water?
The contaminant with the highest measured value relative to its federal limit in the 2024 report is Radium 226 228, at 3.2× the federal threshold. It belongs to the other family of contaminants.
+Where does the data on this page come from?
Every value is transcribed from City of Baltimore, MD's 2024 Consumer Confidence Report — the annual drinking-water report every U.S. public water utility is required by federal law to publish. The original source document is archived and viewable on this site. A water-quality report covers an entire service area, not a single address.
+How often is City of Baltimore, MD's water quality data updated?
Each U.S. public water utility publishes one Consumer Confidence Report per year, covering the prior calendar year's measurements. This page reflects the 2024 report; a new report will replace it once the utility publishes its next annual update.