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Bel Air, MD Tap Water Quality 2026

Water quality report for Bel Air, MD — PFAS, lead and copper results, violation history and state inspection findings from EPA SDWIS.

A look at Bel Air's drinking water using EPA enforcement records: violations, lead and copper results, PFAS sampling and state inspection findings.

Main Utility: Maryland American Water Company PWSID: MD0120003 Updated: 2026 Q2
⚠️

PFAS above the federal limit at 1 of 2 sampling points

Lead is 2.00 ppb, 13% of the action level and no violations are open. However, PFAS exceeds the federal limit at 1 of 2 sampling points, running as high as 1.9 times the limit.

B

Bel Air earns a B for water quality

Graded on violations, lead, and PFAS, with state inspection findings.

Lead: 2.00 ppb — 13% of the federal action level
PFAS above the federal limit at 1 of 2 sampling points
No violations since 2015
No violations currently open
Bel Air's lead level vs. all Maryland community water systems
0 ppb5 ppb10 ppb15 ppb
Lead level: 2.00 ppb — 13% of the federal action level
✓ Lower lead than 68% of Maryland utilities
Population Served
10297
~4745 connections
Water Source
Surface water
Drawn from surface water — SDWIS source code SW
Active Violations
0
None on record since 2015

Lead & Copper Testing

Lead (Pb)
90th percentile of tap samples collected across the distribution system
13% of EPA action level
2.00 ppb
Action level: 15 ppb
The 90th-percentile lead result is 2.00 ppb, 13% of the 15 ppb federal action level. The action level is a treatment trigger, not a legal maximum, and it is measured across sampled taps rather than at any single home.

Contaminant Violations (2015–Present)

✓ No violations on record for this water system.
Understanding violation types MCL violations mean a contaminant exceeded the federal maximum limit — the most serious type.
TT (Treatment Technique) violations mean required treatment procedures weren't followed, but don't necessarily mean contamination occurred.

Violation History

No violations are on record for this system since 2015. EPA records violations for every community water system, so this reflects a clean compliance history rather than missing data.

About the Main Water System

Utility Maryland American Water Company
PWSID MD0120003
Water source Surface water — Drawn from surface water — SDWIS source code SW
Population served 10,297
Service connections 4,745
Systems serving this area 2
Regulator State primacy agency
Data through 2026 Q2 — EPA SDWIS

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bel Air tap water safe to drink? ▼
It meets most federal standards, but PFAS exceeds the federal limit at 1 of 2 sampling points. No violations are currently open. Lead is 2.00 ppb, 13% of the action level.
Does Bel Air water have PFAS? ▼
Yes. PFAS exceeds the federal limit at 1 of 2 sampling points, running as high as 1.9 times the limit. Limits are enforced on a running annual average at each sampling point, not on a single sample.
Who supplies water to Bel Air? ▼
Maryland American Water Company (PWSID MD0120003), one of 2 systems serving this area. Surface water. Drawn from surface water — SDWIS source code SW
When was this system last inspected? ▼
It was last inspected on 2025-08-11. No significant deficiencies were recorded.

What Should Bel Air Residents Do?

1
Consider a reverse-osmosis filter
Reverse osmosis removes more than 95% of PFAS. Standard carbon pitchers do not.
2
Check for a lead service line
Lead reaches tap water mainly through service lines and household plumbing. Suppliers now publish an inventory identifying lead lines.
3
Flush before drinking
If water has sat in pipes more than six hours, run the cold tap for two minutes before drinking or cooking.

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