Water Quality Report · Updated October 07, 2026
HARFORD COUNTY D.P.W.
HARFORD COUNTY D.P.W. delivers tap water graded C (74/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 104,567 residents in ABINGDON, Maryland using surface water. The most significant water quality concerns are: Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline; Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline; Arsenic detected. For questions, the utility can be reached at 410-638-3939.
Is ABINGDON tap water safe to drink?
HARFORD COUNTY D.P.W. delivers tap water that earns a grade of C (74/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — an average rating, with several contaminants above health guidelines but generally compliant with US legal limits.
The utility serves 104,567 residents in ABINGDON, drawing from surface water.
Public testing data identifies 11 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Bromodichloromethane, Chloroform, Arsenic, Nitrate, Radium, combined (-226 and -228), Chromium (hexavalent), Nitrate and nitrite, Dibromochloromethane. For most residents, a properly certified home filter at the kitchen tap is the most cost-effective way to reduce exposure to whatever's in your water. See our filter recommendations below, matched specifically to this utility's contaminant profile.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for HARFORD COUNTY D.P.W. (system ID MD0120016) for the last 3 years. Checked 2026-10-07.
| Rule | Type | Since | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule | Missed testing or reporting | 07/01/2024 | Open |
Source: U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO), from the Safe Drinking Water Information System. See EPA's full report.
Quick actions for ABINGDON residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for HARFORD COUNTY D.P.W..
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 30.9 ppb, 514x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 18.8 ppb, 188x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 24.3 ppb, 162x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Arsenic detected
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 0.0833 ppb.
Contact HARFORD COUNTY D.P.W.
Reach the utility directly for service issues, water quality concerns, or to request your Consumer Confidence Report.
General Contact
Treatment Plant
Recommended water filters for ABINGDON
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.
Carbon filter certified for VOCs (NSF/ANSI 53)
$180-$599Activated carbon is effective for disinfection byproducts. Look for NSF/ANSI 53 VOC reduction.
Reverse osmosis certified for arsenic (NSF/ANSI 58)
$429-$599Reverse osmosis certified under NSF/ANSI 58 for arsenic is the most reliable home option.
Disclosure: TapWaterSafety earns a commission from purchases made through these links. This does not influence our scoring methodology or filter selection.
Score breakdown
This utility's overall score of 74/100 breaks down across five weighted components. Read the full methodology →
Contaminants detected — international standards comparison
Every contaminant detected, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal (the strictest US benchmark). 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 |
30.9 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 514× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
18.8 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 188× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
24.3 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 162× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
5.43 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 91× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
23.5 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 59× over |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
0.0833 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 21× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
2.87 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 21× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228) Radiological |
1.07 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 21× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.333 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 17× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
2.32 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 17× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
1.33 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 13× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
160.3 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Beryllium Heavy metal |
0.125 ppb | 1.0 | 4.0 | — | — | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
65.5 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
4.27 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Antimony Heavy metal |
0.0208 ppb | 1.0 | 6.0 | 10 | 20 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Selenium Heavy metal |
0.125 ppb | 30.0 | 50.0 | 20 | 40 | 30 | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
0.0294 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,1-Dichloroethane Volatile organic compound |
0.004 ppb | 3.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.0879 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chloroethane Other |
1.11 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chromium (total) Heavy metal |
0.167 ppb | — | 100.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.351 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | 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 (4th ed.), California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
HARFORD COUNTY D.P.W. service area
This water system serves 1 community in Harford County, Maryland. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for ABINGDON water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.