Maryland
Maryland sits in the Northeast and draws its water primarily from Potomac River, Chesapeake tributaries, and coastal aquifers. With roughly 6.2 million residents, the state has a developing water reuse program, reusing an estimated 7% of its treated wastewater.
Marylandwater quality & safety
Top violation drivers in Maryland
| Contaminant / rule | Systems |
|---|---|
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | 105 |
| TTHM | 12 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | 12 |
| Groundwater Rule | 11 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 9 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | 9 |
Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) · 2026 Q1 · health-based violations since 2016
Chesapeake Bay restoration drives heavy investment in stormwater and nutrient management.
On the U.S. Drought Monitor scale, Maryland currently tracks around severe to extreme conditions. Maryland has 467 community water systems serving about 5 million people; EPA records show 148 of them (31.7%) with a health-based Safe Drinking Water Act violation since 2016. The pages below break down the water issues that matter most here and the communities working on solutions.
Drought history — severe+ extent
% of Maryland in severe drought or worse (D2+) each late summer.
Source: U.S. Drought Monitor (NDMC/UNL, USDA, NOAA) · latest 2026-06-09
Water use (USGS 2015)
- Per-capita (public supply)
- 164 gpcd
- Total withdrawals
- 6.5 Bgal/d
- From groundwater
- 24%
- Irrigation share
- 1%
- Wastewater reused (est.)
- ~7%
Primary water sources
- ≈ Potomac River
- ≈ Chesapeake tributaries
- ≈ coastal aquifers
Common questions
Is tap water safe in Maryland?
Maryland has 467 community water systems serving about 5 million people. EPA records show 148 of them (31.7%) with at least one health-based Safe Drinking Water Act violation since 2016, and 8 system(s) over the federal lead action level. Most large systems meet standards; check your specific city and your utility's annual report.
What contaminants are most common in Maryland's water?
The most frequent health-based violations involve LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS, TTHM, Lead and Copper Rule.
How much water does Maryland use per person?
Public water systems in Maryland withdraw about 164 gallons per person per day (USGS 2015), drawing 24% of fresh water from groundwater.
How bad is the drought in Maryland?
As of 2026-06-09, 92.2% of Maryland is in drought (D1+) and 61.4% is in severe drought or worse, per the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Cities in Maryland
14 trackedBaltimore
Baltimore, MD water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Columbia
Columbia, MD water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Germantown
Germantown, MD water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Silver Spring
Silver Spring, MD water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Frederick
Frederick, MD water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Waldorf
Waldorf, MD water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Glen Burnie
Glen Burnie, MD water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Gaithersburg
Gaithersburg, MD water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Rockville
Rockville, MD water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Ellicott City
Ellicott City, MD water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Dundalk
Dundalk, MD water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Bethesda
Bethesda, MD water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Key issues in Maryland
Saltwater Intrusion
As coastal aquifers are over-pumped and seas rise, saltwater pushes inland and contaminates freshwater supplies for cities from Florida to California.
ExploreAging Infrastructure
Much of America's water infrastructure is decades past its design life, leaking trillions of gallons a year and demanding hundreds of billions in reinvestment.
ExploreStormwater Capture
Cities are reengineering streets and parks to capture rain that once ran to the sea, recharging aquifers and reducing flooding at the same time.
Explore