Table of Contents
Can You Drink Tap Water in Baltimore?
Yes, Baltimore's tap water is generally considered safe to drink as Baltimore has no active health based violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) that we are aware of. Other factors such as lead piping in a home, or low levels of pollutants on immunocompromised individuals, should also be considered, however. To find more recent info we might have, you can check out our boil water notice page, the city's water provider website, or Baltimore's local Twitter account.
According the EPA’s ECHO database, from April 30, 2019 to June 30, 2022, Baltimore's water utility, City of Baltimore, had 0 violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act. For more details on the violations, please see our violation history section below. The last violation for Baltimore was resolved on March 31, 2016. This assessment is based on the City of Baltimore water system, other water systems in the city may have different results.
While tap water that meets the EPA health guidelines generally won’t make you sick to your stomach, it can still contain regulated and unregulated contaminants present in trace amounts that could potentially cause health issues over the long-run. These trace contaminants may also impact immunocompromised and vulnerable individuals.
The EPA is reviewing if it’s current regulations around pollutant levels in tap water are strict enough, and the health dangers posed by unregulated pollutants, like PFAS.
Water Quality Report for Baltimore Tap Water
The most recent publicly available numbers for measured contaminant levels in Baltimore tap water are in its 2020 Water Quality Report. As you can see, there are levels which the EPA considers to be acceptable, but being below the maximum allowable level doesn’t necessarily mean the water is healthy.
Lead in tap water, for example, is currently allowed at up to 15ppb by the EPA, but it has set the ideal goal for lead at zero. This highlights how meeting EPA standards doesn’t necessarily mean local tap water is healthy.
EPA regulations continue to change as it evaluates the long term impacts of chemicals and updates drinking water acceptable levels. The rules around arsenic, as well as, lead and copper are currently being re-evaluated.
There are also a number of "emerging" contaminants that are not currently. For example, PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), for which the EPA has issued a health advisory. PFAS are called "forever chemicals" since they tend not to break down in the environment or the human body and can accumulate over time.
We recommend looking at the contaminants present in Baltimore's water quality reports, or getting your home's tap water tested to see if you should be filtering your water.
Baltimore Tap Water Safe Drinking Water Act Violation History - Prior 10 Years
Below is a ten year history of violations for the water system named City of Baltimore for Baltimore in Maryland. For more details please see the "What do these Violations Mean?" section below.
From Jan. 1, 2016 to March 31, 2016, Baltimore had 1 health-based Safe Drinking Water Act violation with the violation category being Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, more specifically, the violation code was Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average which falls into the Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule rule code group, and the Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule rule code family for the following contaminant code: Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5).
From April 1, 2015 to June 30, 2015, Baltimore had 1 health-based Safe Drinking Water Act violation with the violation category being Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, more specifically, the violation code was Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average which falls into the Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule rule code group, and the Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule rule code family for the following contaminant code: Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5).
From Jan. 1, 2015 to Dec. 31, 2015, Baltimore had 21 non-health based Safe Drinking Water Act violations with the violation category being Monitoring and Reporting, more specifically, the violation code was Monitoring, Regular which falls into the Chemicals rule code group, and the Volatile Organic Chemicals rule code family for the following contaminant codes: 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene, cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene, Xylenes, Total, o-Dichlorobenzene, p-Dichlorobenzene, Vinyl chloride, 1,1-Dichloroethylene, trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene, 1,2-Dichloroethane, 1,1,1-Trichloroethane, Carbon tetrachloride, 1,2-Dichloropropane, Trichloroethylene, Tetrachloroethylene, CHLOROBENZENE, Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, DICHLOROMETHANE, Styrene, 1,1,2-Trichloroethane.
From July 1, 2013 to Sept. 30, 2013, Baltimore had 1 health-based Safe Drinking Water Act violation with the violation category being Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, more specifically, the violation code was Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average which falls into the Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule rule code group, and the Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule rule code family for the following contaminant code: Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5).
Is there Lead in Baltimore Water?
Based on the EPA’s ECHO Database, 90% of the samples taken from the Baltimore water system, City of Baltimore, between sample start date and sample end date, were at or below, 0.00353 mg/L of lead in Baltimore water. This is 23.5% of the 0.015 mg/L action level. This means 10% of the samples taken from Baltimore contained more lead.
While Baltimore water testing may have found 0.00353 mg/L of lead in its water, that does not mean your water source has the same amount. The amount of lead in water in a city can vary greatly from neighborhood to neighborhood, or even building to building. Many buildings, particularly older ones, have lead pipes or service lines which can be a source of contamination. To find out if your home has lead, we recommend getting you water tested.
No amount of lead in water is healthy, only less dangerous. As lead accumulates in our bodies over time, even exposure to relatively small amounts can have negative health effects. For more information, please check out our Lead FAQ page.
Are there PFAS in Baltimore Tap Water?
Currently, testing tap water for PFAS isn’t mandated on a national level. We do have a list of military bases where there have been suspected or confirmed leaks. There appears to be at least one military base - Martin State - near Baltimore with suspected leaks.
With many potential sources of PFAS in tap water across the US, the best information we currently have about which cities have PFAS in their water is this ewg map, which you can check to see if Baltimore has been evaluated for yet.
Our stance is better safe than sorry, and that it makes sense to try to purify the tap water just in case.
Baltimore SDWA Violation History Table - Prior 10 Years
Compliance Period | Status | Health-Based? | Category Code | Code | Rule Code | Contaminant Code | Rule Group Code | Rule Family Code |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
01/01/2016 - 03/31/2016 | Resolved | Yes | Maximum Contaminant Level Violation (MCL) | Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average (02) | Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (220) | Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) (2456) | Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (200) | Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (220) |
04/01/2015 - 06/30/2015 | Resolved | Yes | Maximum Contaminant Level Violation (MCL) | Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average (02) | Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (220) | Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) (2456) | Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (200) | Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (220) |
01/01/2015 - 12/31/2015 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Regular (03) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) | 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene (2378) | Chemicals (300) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) |
01/01/2015 - 12/31/2015 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Regular (03) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) | cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene (2380) | Chemicals (300) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) |
01/01/2015 - 12/31/2015 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Regular (03) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) | Xylenes, Total (2955) | Chemicals (300) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) |
01/01/2015 - 12/31/2015 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Regular (03) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) | o-Dichlorobenzene (2968) | Chemicals (300) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) |
01/01/2015 - 12/31/2015 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Regular (03) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) | p-Dichlorobenzene (2969) | Chemicals (300) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) |
01/01/2015 - 12/31/2015 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Regular (03) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) | Vinyl chloride (2976) | Chemicals (300) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) |
01/01/2015 - 12/31/2015 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Regular (03) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) | 1,1-Dichloroethylene (2977) | Chemicals (300) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) |
01/01/2015 - 12/31/2015 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Regular (03) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) | trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene (2979) | Chemicals (300) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) |
01/01/2015 - 12/31/2015 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Regular (03) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) | 1,2-Dichloroethane (2980) | Chemicals (300) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) |
01/01/2015 - 12/31/2015 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Regular (03) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) | 1,1,1-Trichloroethane (2981) | Chemicals (300) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) |
01/01/2015 - 12/31/2015 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Regular (03) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) | Carbon tetrachloride (2982) | Chemicals (300) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) |
01/01/2015 - 12/31/2015 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Regular (03) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) | 1,2-Dichloropropane (2983) | Chemicals (300) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) |
01/01/2015 - 12/31/2015 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Regular (03) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) | Trichloroethylene (2984) | Chemicals (300) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) |
01/01/2015 - 12/31/2015 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Regular (03) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) | Tetrachloroethylene (2987) | Chemicals (300) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) |
01/01/2015 - 12/31/2015 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Regular (03) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) | CHLOROBENZENE (2989) | Chemicals (300) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) |
01/01/2015 - 12/31/2015 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Regular (03) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) | Benzene (2990) | Chemicals (300) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) |
01/01/2015 - 12/31/2015 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Regular (03) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) | Toluene (2991) | Chemicals (300) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) |
01/01/2015 - 12/31/2015 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Regular (03) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) | Ethylbenzene (2992) | Chemicals (300) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) |
01/01/2015 - 12/31/2015 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Regular (03) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) | DICHLOROMETHANE (2964) | Chemicals (300) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) |
01/01/2015 - 12/31/2015 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Regular (03) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) | Styrene (2996) | Chemicals (300) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) |
01/01/2015 - 12/31/2015 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Regular (03) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) | 1,1,2-Trichloroethane (2985) | Chemicals (300) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) |
07/01/2013 - 09/30/2013 | Resolved | Yes | Maximum Contaminant Level Violation (MCL) | Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average (02) | Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (220) | Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) (2456) | Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (200) | Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (220) |
What do these Violations Mean?
Safe Drinking Water Act Violations categories split into two groups, health based, and non-health based. Generally, health based violations are more serious, though non-health based violations can also be cause for concern.
Health Based Violations
- Maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) - maximum allowed contaminant level was exceeded.
- Maximum residual disinfectant levels (MRDLs) - maximum allowed disinfectant level was exceeded.
- Other violations (Other) - the exact required process to reduce the amounts of contaminants in drinking water was not followed.
Non-Health Based Violations
- Monitoring and reporting violations (MR, MON) - failure to conduct the required regular monitoring of drinking water quality, and/or to submit monitoring results on time.
- Public notice violations (Other) - failure to immediately alert consumers if there is a serious problem with their drinking water that may pose a risk to public health.
- Other violations (Other) - miscellaneous violations, such as failure to issue annual consumer confidence reports or maintain required records.
SDWA Table Key
Field | Description |
---|---|
Compliance Period | Dates of the compliance period. |
Status |
Current status of the violation.
|
Health-Based? | Whether the violation is health based. |
Category Code |
The category of violation that is reported.
|
Code | A full description of violation codes can be accessed in the SDWA_REF_CODE_VALUES (CSV) table. |
Contaminant Code | A code value that represents a contaminant for which a public water system has incurred a violation of a primary drinking water regulation. |
Rule Code |
Code for a National Drinking Water rule.
|
Rule Group Code |
Code that uniquely identifies a rule group.
|
Rule Family Code |
Code for rule family.
|
For more clarification please visit the EPA's data dictionary.
Baltimore Water - Frequently Asked Questions
By Mail: | CITY OF BALTIMORE D.P.W. 3001 DRUID PARK DRIVE BALTIMORE, MD, 21215 |
Existing customers can login to their City of Baltimore account to pay their Baltimore water bill by clicking here.
If you want to pay your City of Baltimore bill online and haven't made an account yet, you can create an account online. Please click here to create your account to pay your Baltimore water bill.
If you don't want to make an account, or can't remember your account, you can make a one-time payment towards your Baltimore water bill without creating an account using a one time payment portal with your account number and credit or debit card. Click here to make a one time payment.
Moving to a new house or apartment in Baltimore means you will often need to put the water in your name with City of Baltimore. In order to put the water in your name, please click the link to the start service form below. Start service requests for water bills typically take two business days.
Leaving your house or apartment in Baltimore means you will likely need to take your name off of the water bill with City of Baltimore. In order to take your name off the water bill, please click the link to the stop service form below. Stop service for water bills requests typically take two business days.
The estimated price of bottled water
$1.25 in USD (1.5-liter)
USER SUBMITTED RATINGS
- Drinking Water Pollution and Inaccessibility
- Water Pollution
- Drinking Water Quality and Accessibility
- Water Quality
The above data is comprised of subjective, user submitted opinions about the water quality and pollution in Baltimore, measured on a scale from 0% (lowest) to 100% (highest).
Related FAQS
Contaminants
City of Baltimore
EWG's drinking water quality report shows results of tests conducted by the water utility and provided to the Environmental Working Group by the Maryland Department of the Environment, as well as information from the U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History database (ECHO). For the latest quarter assessed by the U.S. EPA (January 2019 - March 2019), tap water provided by this water utility was in compliance with federal health-based drinking water standards.
Utility details
- Serves: 1600000
- Data available: 2012-2017
- Data Source: Surface water
- Total: 18
Contaminants That Exceed Guidelines
- Nitrate
- Nitrate and nitrite
- Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Other Detected Contaminants
- 4-Androstene-3%2C17-dione
- Atrazine
- Barium
- Chlorate
- Chlordane
- Chloromethane
- Chromium (hexavalent)
- Chromium (total)
- Fluoride
- Haloacetic acids (HAA5)
- Simazine
- Strontium
- Testosterone
- Toxaphene
- Vanadium
Reminder
Always take extra precautions, the water may be safe to drink when it leaves the sewage treatment plant but it may pick up pollutants during its way to your tap. We advise that you ask locals or hotel staff about the water quality. Also, note that different cities have different water mineral contents.
Sources and Resources
Sources Cited
Additional Resources
The Baltimore Sun reports that a Maryland environmental group has filed suit against the Baltimore Water Company over its high levels of chlorine in tap water. They claim that the levels are so high that they threaten to cause health problems for residents like asthma and cancer. They also point out that during a recent outbreak of cholera that residents there had to deal with, many people died. The problem? It’s that the emergency spill team was delayed in delivering clean water to the people of Baltimore.
So, if you’re going to be heading out on a trip and you have no idea what you’re going to get yourself into, just bring along some clean water with you. If you were ever wondering if what you drink can harm you or your children, it’s time to find out. In fact, the Baltimore lawsuit might force the FDA to come out with stricter regulations on water contamination. And this could mean that bottled waters won’t be the future of water choice for the people of Baltimore.
If you want to stay healthy and your body can do so because of good clean water, then you might want to invest in an ice cooler with a water filter. There are many different kinds of water filtration systems available on the market today that are simple and affordable to buy. So, when you head out on a trip this summer, remember to bring along a bottle of purified water and make sure you don’t take anything with you that might kill you or your family. You owe it to yourself to pay attention to how you’re treating yourself and your family and don’t forget to keep the water clean!
Baltimore Water Quality
Baltimore is the second largest city in Maryland. It is also one of its leading industrial centers, housing major companies such as General Electric, Wal-Mart and Chrysler. The city was built around a harbor, which supports a wide range of commerce in all its forms. Most of the industries here have something to do with the Chesapeake Bay and the Baltimore Harbor. The Harbor ties together the city’s two biggest industries; shipping and recreation. A large part of the city is located near the Eastern Shore, which is where the Chesapeake Bay runs its course.
Baltimore water quality has been under scrutiny in recent years because of what is considered to be an unsafe level of chlorine in the city’s water supply. This chemical is used by so many companies in the city to kill bacteria and algae that may clog the city’s drainage system. This in turn can cause a variety of water quality problems, including harmful chemicals in the water that can be harmful or even deadly to animals and humans. This issue led to the formation of a group called the Great Lakes Erie Commission, which is charged with protecting the city’s water quality.
Part of that commission’s responsibility is to ensure the city complies with the Safe Water Act, which sets standards for the amount and kind of testing and treatment required of local municipalities. Baltimore has maintained a high level of drinking water safety, though it still has work to do. The first step towards improving your own water quality is to purchase a home filtration system and get a good water test. You’ll probably want to get more than one test done, as certain metals can show up in both testing solutions. If you live in an area that regularly gets industrial wastewater, then you might also want to invest in a treatment system. The key is to make sure that your system uses the right combination of filters and treatment technology to give you the cleanest water possible.
Baltimore Water Safety
Baltimore water safety is a big issue for residents who are constantly exposed to the harmful effects of pollutants in the city water. If you have children, it is absolutely essential that you make sure that they are kept away from any sources of contaminants that might harm them. Pipes carrying water are known to carry a variety of pollutants, such as chemicals, herbicides and pesticides. The risk posed by these pollutants is great and you need to make sure that you filter your kitchen and shower water before using them. The safety valve found at the point where the water enters your house is also an important feature to look out for. It is advisable to check the water safety valve once a week and use it whenever necessary.
A lot of people also do not pay attention to the kind of kitchenware they use. Using metallic utensils for cooking purposes poses a serious safety risk because metals such as lead can get accumulated in the body over time. It is also important to buy stainless steel appliances for this very reason. A lot of people have been reported to have developed kidney problems after drinking from contaminated water. In order to avoid such a problem, it is recommended that you always use a water safety valve along with your kitchen faucet.
If you are looking for a reliable water filter system for your home, you should also look out for Baltimore water safety valves because these filters have different levels of filtering capacity. You can either choose a system that filters the water you drink or the kind of shower water that you get. It is also possible to get a safety valve that filters all your household’s water, including your laundry, dishwashers and hot water heater. If you do not know what sort of filter you should get, it is recommended that you read up on the subject before you purchase one.
Baltimore Water Systems
If you have an old city water system in Baltimore, you may be wondering what to do next. The Baltimore Water Plant does a good job of cleaning up the water coming into the city, but they can’t clean it all. There is so much pollution in our streams, lakes, and rivers that they never seem to be cleaned up. If you live in the Charm City, it’s time that you made a difference. You can find help with improving your current water system by searching online. There are companies out there that will come to your home and evaluate your current system and give you options to have it cleaned up and maintained, or if you want to get rid of your current filtration system and do it from scratch.
If you find that you are having problems with your current system, there are many options for you to consider. If you are looking for something simple, then you can buy filters that will allow you to clean up the water coming through your kitchen faucet. There are systems that will allow you to have water in your bathtubs, showerheads, and laundry room. Some of these products can be costly, but it may be worth it to have the peace of mind that comes with knowing that you and your family are getting clean water.
If you want a little more than a filter for your kitchen tap, there are systems that will allow you to clean your whole house. These systems will give you everything you need to have clean, clear, and healthy water in your bedroom, bathroom, and living rooms. There are even systems that will allow you to have pure water in your vehicles. There is no reason for you to have to deal with dirty water. Find a company that will help you find the perfect solution to your current filtration problem and you’ll be enjoying pure water where you need it most.
Baltimore Water Quality Report
Every year, you have the opportunity to request a Baltimore water quality report and test your own tap-water. The city tests all of its water supplies for E-coli bacteria during a scheduled period each month. The goal is to catch contaminants before they make their way into residents’ drinking supply. If you are serviced by a treatment center, you can get a sample of your water by ordering it through your treatment facility. You will usually get a shipping container along with instructions on how to collect the water sample and return it for testing.
Most testing centers provide you with a sample report that will allow you to determine if the sample shows any particulates or micro-organisms. You can order this report by mail, phone or online. If you choose to send it in the mail, the cost is usually lower than testing online. The Baltimore water department also posts an online sample report after every water treatment processing cycle. You can usually find this report on the City of Baltimore’s website.
The most common method for testing the quality of the city’s water supply is by using reverse osmosis. However, a membrane filter is more often used to ensure that contaminants do not enter the water. If you decide to use a membrane filter, be sure to check for the manufacturer’s warranty. In addition to using a filter, you might want to consider purchasing a kitchen countertop water filter or carrying bottled water around with you at all times. With all of the pollutants and contaminants in the water, the last thing you need is a dirty mouth!