Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in Baltimore, Maryland
Tap water in Baltimore, Maryland receives a grade of F (50/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by Baltimore Water Utilities. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Lead detected in source water; Chromium-6 detected. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database, and Baltimore's published Consumer Confidence Report.
What's in Baltimore's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving Baltimore.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPFOA, PFOA detected. PFAS are persistent chemicals linked to cancer and immune effects with no known safe exposure threshold.
Lead detected in source water
Severe concernLead detected at 5.7 ppb. EWG considers no level of lead safe; EPA's action level is 15 ppb.
Chromium-6 detected
Moderate concernChromium-6 detected at 0.26 ppb.
Recommended filters for Baltimore
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in Baltimore's water supply.
Reverse Osmosis or NSF P473 certified carbon
$80-$750Activated carbon and RO are the only technologies proven to remove PFAS at certified levels.
NSF/ANSI 53 certified for lead removal
$80-$750NSF 53 is the gold standard certification for lead removal. Required when lead is a documented concern.
Reverse Osmosis
$249-$750Chromium-6 requires reverse osmosis for reliable removal. Standard carbon filters do not address it.
Disclosure: TapWaterSafety earns a commission from purchases made through these links. This does not influence our scoring methodology or filter selection.
All contaminants detected in Baltimore's tap water
Every contaminant identified, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal. Why we show multiple standards →
| Contaminant | Detected | EWG US health-based |
EPA US legal |
EU DWD Europe |
WHO global |
CA PHG strictest US |
Tested sample year |
Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PFOA Organic |
5.98 ppt | 0.004 | 4 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | 2023 | EPA violation |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
24.5 ppb | 0.1 | 60 | 60 | — | — | 2024 | 245× over |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
15.7 ppb | 0.6 | 80 | 100 | — | — | 2022 | 26× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
3.45 mg/L | 0.14 | 10 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | 2023 | 25× over |
| Chromium-6 (Hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.331 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | 0.02 | 2023 | 17× over |
| Lead Heavy metal |
6.31 ppb | 0 | 15 | 5 | 10 | 0.2 | 2022 | Fails EU |
| Contaminant | Detected (2024) | EWG | EPA | EU DWD | WHO | CA PHG | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
24.5 ppb | 0.1 | 60 | 60 | — | — | 245× over |
| Contaminant | Detected (2023) | EWG | EPA | EU DWD | WHO | CA PHG | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PFOA Organic |
5.98 ppt | 0.004 | 4 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | EPA violation |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
3.45 mg/L | 0.14 | 10 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | 25× over |
| Chromium-6 (Hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.331 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | 0.02 | 17× over |
| Contaminant | Detected (2022) | EWG | EPA | EU DWD | WHO | CA PHG | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
15.7 ppb | 0.6 | 80 | 100 | — | — | 26× over |
| Lead Heavy metal |
6.31 ppb | 0 | 15 | 5 | 10 | 0.2 | Fails EU |
All values in the unit of the detected level. Red cells indicate the detected level exceeds that standard. Some contaminants have limits in some jurisdictions but not others (shown as —). The "Tested" column shows the year each contaminant sample was collected.
Sources: US EPA, EU Drinking Water Directive 2020/2184, WHO Guidelines, California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
Treatment plant contact info
For service issues, water quality concerns, or to request a Consumer Confidence Report from Baltimore Water Utilities.
General Contact
Water Quality Contact
For questions about contaminants or test results.