Water quality
Maryland water quality
According to the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE), PFAS has been found in the majority of water treatment plants the state has tested, prompting major state investments and a 2026 deadline for industrial dischargers to reduce PFAS. MDE reports the two largest systems, Baltimore City and WSSC, lack lead service lines, though the EPA estimates tens of thousands statewide. Chlorinated systems can produce disinfection byproducts.
Documented considerations
PFAS
According to MDE, PFAS has been detected in the majority of water treatment plants tested statewide; Maryland's law sets a July 1, 2026 deadline for industrial PFAS dischargers to reduce discharges, and recent budgets included major treatment funding.
Disinfection byproducts
According to utility reporting, chlorine reacting with organic matter in systems such as Baltimore's produces haloacetic acids and trihalomethanes, which have been detected in major city systems.
Lead
According to MDE, Baltimore City and WSSC do not have lead service lines, but the EPA estimates roughly 71,000 lead service lines statewide and some older towns report them; utilities are completing inventories under federal rules.
Certified filters for Maryland's main concerns
- 7.5Culligan US-EZ-4 Under-Sink
An under-sink filter genuinely IAPMO certified to NSF/ANSI 42, 53 and 401 for lead, cysts, VOCs, mercury and PFOA/PFOS.
- 7.2Aquasana AQ-5200 Under-Sink
Certified for lead and PFAS, cheap per gallon, marketing matches the certified scope.
- 7.2AquaTru Classic Countertop RO
A no-plumbing countertop 4-stage RO purifier certified to NSF standards for lead, PFAS, fluoride and arsenic with an efficient drain ratio.
- 4.9ZeroWater 5-Stage Pitcher (7-Cup)
A five-stage ion-exchange pitcher certified for lead, chromium-6 and PFOA/PFOS - but a short 15-gallon filter makes it costly to run.
- 7.3Brita Elite Pitcher (10-Cup)
A pour-through pitcher whose Elite filter is certified to reduce lead, mercury, cadmium and more, with a long 120-gallon cartridge.
- 6.8Frizzlife SK99 Under-Sink Filter
A direct-connect 3-stage under-sink filter with a 0.5 micron carbon block, IAPMO certified to NSF/ANSI 42 and 53 for chlorine, lead and chloramine.
FAQ
- Is Maryland tap water safe to drink?
- According to MDE, public systems must meet federal standards, but PFAS has been found in most treatment plants the state tested, and disinfection byproducts appear in some city systems. Reviewing your utility's annual report is recommended.
- Does Maryland water have PFAS?
- According to MDE, PFAS has been detected in the majority of water treatment plants tested statewide, and the state has committed major funding for treatment while requiring industrial dischargers to cut PFAS by July 2026.
- Are there lead pipes in Maryland?
- According to MDE, the two largest systems, Baltimore City and WSSC, do not have lead service lines, but the EPA estimates around 71,000 statewide, with many lines still classified as unknown pending inventories.
Sources
Not sure how to read your local report? See our guide on reading a water quality report.