Ellicott City
Ellicott City, MD water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
lutheran village at miller's grant
surface water (rivers/reservoirs) · private · PWSID MD0130007
Below EPA's 15 ppb lead action level at last testing.
Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) · 2026 Q1
With about 65,834 residents, Ellicott City ranks as the 10th-largest city in Maryland and a small but growing city. Water in Ellicott City is sourced chiefly from Potomac River, Chesapeake tributaries, and coastal aquifers, the backbone of Maryland's supply.
The defining water pressure here mirrors the state's: saltwater intrusion. Chesapeake Bay restoration drives heavy investment in stormwater and nutrient management.
Statewide, Maryland recycles about 7% of its wastewater with developing reuse programs. Locally, Ellicott City faces severe to extreme drought conditions.
The Maryland state profile covers the regional supply outlook; the issues below detail what's driving Ellicott City's water future.
Howard County water quality
Source: EPA SDWIS · 2026 Q1
At a glance
- Population ~65,834 (10th-largest in Maryland)
- Primary sources: Potomac River, Chesapeake tributaries, and coastal aquifers
- Drought: severe to extreme conditions
- State reuse rate: ~7% of wastewater
Statewide drought history
% of Maryland in severe+ drought (Extreme (D3) now).
Source: U.S. Drought Monitor
Common questions
Is tap water safe in Ellicott City?
Ellicott City's largest water system, LUTHERAN VILLAGE AT MILLER'S GRANT, serves about 315 people. EPA records show 1 health-based violation(s) since 2016 and a most-recent 90th-percentile lead level of 0 ppb (EPA action level is 15 ppb). Always check your own provider's annual Consumer Confidence Report.
Where does Ellicott City get its water?
LUTHERAN VILLAGE AT MILLER'S GRANT draws primarily from surface water (rivers/reservoirs), part of Maryland's supply from Potomac River, Chesapeake tributaries, coastal aquifers.
Related water issues
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