Drinking water quality · 2024
What's in Poolesville, MD tap water
22 contaminants were measured in the Poolesville, MD water system's 2024 annual report. Each is shown below against its federal limit — 2 sit at or above that limit.
- Reporting year
- 2024
- Contaminants measured
- 22
- Over federal limit
- 2
- Approaching the limit
- 1
- Worst contaminant
- Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid
- Service area
- MD
PFAS ("forever chemicals")
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perfluorohexanesulfonic acidPerfluorohexanesulfonic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical.' | 913 ng/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | At or above the limit |
| PFOAPerfluorooctanoic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical' once used in nonstick and stain-resistant products. | 2.94 ng/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Within the limit |
| PFOSPerfluorooctanesulfonic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical' once used in firefighting foam and coatings. | 2.653 ng/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Within the limit |
| Perfluorobutanesulfonic acidPerfluorobutanesulfonic acid, a shorter-chain PFAS 'forever chemical.' | 1.527 ng/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acidPerfluoroheptanoic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical.' | 700 ng/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| Perfluorohexanoic acidPerfluorohexanoic acid, a shorter-chain PFAS 'forever chemical.' | 2.3 ng/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| Perfluoropentanoic acidPerfluoropentanoic acid, a shorter-chain PFAS 'forever chemical.' | 3.053 ng/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| PFBAPerfluorobutanoic acid, a shorter-chain PFAS 'forever chemical.' | 933 ng/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Radionuclides
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross AlphaGross alpha particle activity — a combined measure of alpha-emitting radioactive substances. | 22.4 pCi/LReported levelSystem-wide | 15 pCi/LMCL | At or above the limit |
| Combined RadiumCombined radium-226 and radium-228 — naturally occurring radioactive elements. | 3.3 pCi/LReported levelSystem-wide | 5 pCi/LMCL | Within the limit |
| Gross Beta Particle ActivityGross beta particle activity — a combined measure of beta-emitting radioactive substances. | 7.5 pCi/LReported levelSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| RadonA naturally occurring radioactive gas that can dissolve into groundwater. | 1510 pCi/LReported levelSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| UraniumA naturally occurring radioactive metal from erosion of natural deposits. | 12.1 pCi/LReported levelSystem-wide | 20.1 pCi/LMCL | Detected — no federal limit |
Inorganic chemicals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| NitrateA compound from fertilizer runoff, septic systems, and erosion of natural deposits. | 8.05 mg/LReported levelSystem-wide | 10 mg/LMCL | Approaching the limit |
Metals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| CopperA metal that enters water from corroding household plumbing. | 0.43 mg/L90th percentileAt the tap | 1.3 mg/LAction level | Within the limit |
| LeadA toxic metal that leaches into water from old service lines, solder, and plumbing fixtures. | Not detected ug/L90th percentileAt the tap | None set | Within the limit |
| LithiumA naturally occurring element found in some groundwater. | 23.01333 ug/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Disinfection byproducts
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| TTHMTotal trihalomethanes — a group of four chemicals (including chloroform) formed when chlorine reacts with natural organic matter. | 18 ug/LReported levelSystem-wide | None set | Within the limit |
| HAA5Haloacetic acids — a group of five disinfection byproducts formed when disinfectants react with organic matter. | 1.94–2.07 ug/LRangeSystem-wide | None set | Within the limit |
Other
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dehp | 1.34 ug/LReported levelSystem-wide | None set | Within the limit |
| Dichloropropane 12 | 0.53 ug/LReported levelSystem-wide | None set | Within the limit |
Disinfectants
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChlorineA disinfectant added to drinking water to kill bacteria and viruses. | 0.7 mg/LReported levelSystem-wide | 4 mg/LMRDLG | Within the limit |
People also ask about Poolesville, MD's water
+Is Poolesville, MD tap water safe to drink in 2024?
The 2024 Consumer Confidence Report for the Poolesville, MD water utility lists 2 contaminants at or above the federal limit: Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid and Gross Alpha. 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 Poolesville, MD tap water?
22 contaminants were measured in Poolesville, MD's 2024 Consumer Confidence Report, spanning pfas ("forever chemicals"), radionuclides, and metals. 6 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 Poolesville, MD tap water?
2 contaminants in Poolesville, MD's 2024 report sit at or above the federal limit: Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (91.3× the limit); Gross Alpha (1.5× 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 Poolesville, MD tap water?
The contaminant with the highest measured value relative to its federal limit in the 2024 report is Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid, at 91.3× the federal threshold. It belongs to the pfas ("forever chemicals") family of contaminants.
+Are any contaminants in Poolesville, MD tap water approaching the federal limit?
One contaminant is between 80% and 100% of the federal limit in this report: Nitrate. Approaching means measured but not in violation — a margin that can close quickly if conditions change.
+Where does the data on this page come from?
Every value is transcribed from Poolesville, 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 Poolesville, 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.