States › Maryland › Carroll County

Carroll County, MD Water Quality

Water quality data for 8 public water systems serving Carroll County, Maryland — based on EPA SDWIS enforcement records, lead testing results, and health-based violation history.

📅 2026 Report 🔄 Data updated 2026 Q2 📍 8 water systems · 9 cities
⚠️
Caution Advised — Some Systems Need Attention

Some systems have elevated lead levels or active violations. Check your specific city below.

C

Carroll County Earns a C

Carroll County: 9 communities across 8 water systems. 100.0% have no open violations.

  • Median lead where detected: 2.40 ppb
  • 6 communities with a lead detection, 3 reporting none detected
  • 5 communities with PFAS above the federal limit
  • 0 with significant inspection deficiencies
  • 100.0% of communities have no open violations
2.4 ppb
Median Lead Level
County-wide, 90th percentile
8
Water Systems
Active CWS & NTNCWS
100%
Violation-Free
No active violations on record
How we grade counties: MyWaterIQ uses EPA SDWIS enforcement data — actual MCL violations and lead test results — not the aspirational MCLG targets used by some sites. A grade reflects real compliance history, not theoretical risk. Learn more →

Cities by Water Quality

⭐ Best Performing
  • New Windsor
    2.80 ppb
    No federal limits exceeded on record
    B
  • Union Bridge
    4.00 ppb
    No federal limits exceeded on record
    B
  • Eldersburg
    Not detected
    7 health-based violations since 2015
    B
  • Sykesville
    Not detected
    7 health-based violations since 2015
    B
  • Mount Airy
    1.40 ppb
    PFAS above the limit at 3 of 5 sampling points
    C
⚠ Needs Attention
  • Westminster
    Not detected
    PFAS above the limit at 3 of 10 sampling points
    D
  • Hampstead
    2.00 ppb
    PFAS above the limit at 4 of 10 sampling points
    D
  • Mount Airy
    1.40 ppb
    PFAS above the limit at 3 of 5 sampling points
    C
  • Taneytown
    3.00 ppb
    PFAS above the limit at 2 of 7 sampling points
    C
  • Manchester
    1.16 ppb
    PFAS above the limit at 2 of 11 sampling points
    C
County Lead Level — Median 2.4 ppb
Based on most recent 90th percentile lead tests across all reporting systems
0 ppb5 ppb10 ppb15 ppb
County median: 2.4 ppb — 16% of the federal action level
Systems by Lead Level
Under 5 ppb
6
No Data
3

All Cities in Carroll County

Eldersburg Not detected B
Westminster Not detected D
Mount Airy 1.40 ppb C
Taneytown 3.00 ppb C
Hampstead 2.00 ppb D
Manchester 1.16 ppb C
Sykesville Not detected B
New Windsor 2.80 ppb B
Union Bridge 4.00 ppb B
Showing 9 cities
No active violations Active violations

About Carroll County Drinking Water

Carroll County is served by 8 water systems covering 9 communities. No community here has an open violation on record.

Of the communities reporting lead results, 6 recorded a detection, with a median of 2.40 ppb — 16% of the federal action level. 3 reported none detected, which means below the laboratory limit rather than an absence of lead.

5 of 9 communities have PFAS above the limits EPA set in 2024, measured as a running annual average at each sampling point. State inspectors recorded no significant deficiencies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Carroll County tap water safe to drink?▼
No community in Carroll County has an open violation on record. 5 of 9 have PFAS above the federal limit, which is the main open concern.
What is the lead level in Carroll County?▼
Among communities with a detection the median is 2.40 ppb, 16% of the 15 ppb action level. 3 reported none detected and 0 reported no result.
How many water systems serve Carroll County?▼
8 community water systems serve 9 communities here.
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