Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in COLUMBIA, Maryland
Tap water in COLUMBIA, Maryland receives a grade of C (78/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by HOWARD COUNTY D.P.W. DISTRIBUTION. The most significant water quality concerns are: Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database.
What's in COLUMBIA's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving COLUMBIA.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 38.3 ppb, 638x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 47.0 ppb, 313x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 27.6 ppb, 276x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
Recommended filters for COLUMBIA
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in COLUMBIA's water supply.
Carbon block (NSF/ANSI 42 + 53)
$40-$750Activated carbon is highly effective for disinfection byproducts like TTHM and HAA5.
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 COLUMBIA'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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
38.3 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 638× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
47.0 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 313× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
27.6 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 276× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.0263 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.3× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
61.8 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
0.775 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
1.24 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
0.425 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.0715 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 4-Androstene-3,17-dione Other |
0.082 ppt | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
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 HOWARD COUNTY D.P.W. DISTRIBUTION.