Water Quality Report · Updated October 07, 2026
WALDORF - CHARLES COUNTY DPW
WALDORF - CHARLES COUNTY DPW delivers tap water graded C (72/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 84,296 residents in LA PLATA, Maryland using surface water (purchased). The most significant water quality concerns are: Bromochloroacetic acid* significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline; Arsenic detected. For questions, the utility can be reached at 301-609-5611.
Is LA PLATA tap water safe to drink?
WALDORF - CHARLES COUNTY DPW delivers tap water that earns a grade of C (72/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — an average rating, with several contaminants above health guidelines but generally compliant with US legal limits.
The utility serves 84,296 residents in LA PLATA, drawing from surface water (purchased).
Public testing data identifies 12 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Bromochloroacetic acid*, Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Arsenic, Radium, combined (-226 and -228), Dibromochloromethane*, Bromodichloromethane, Nitrate*, Chromium (hexavalent), Chloroform, Bromoform*. 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 WALDORF - CHARLES COUNTY DPW (system ID MD0080049) for the last 3 years. Checked 2026-10-07.
| Rule | Type | Since | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Radionuclides and Revised Rad Rule | Missed testing or reporting | 07/01/2025 | Open |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Missed testing or reporting | 10/01/2023 | 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 LA PLATA residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for WALDORF - CHARLES COUNTY DPW.
Bromochloroacetic acid* significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernBromochloroacetic acid* detected at 4.83 ppb, 242x above the EWG health guideline of 0.02 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 12.6 ppb, 209x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 16.6 ppb, 111x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Arsenic detected
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 0.205 ppb.
Contact WALDORF - CHARLES COUNTY DPW
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 LA PLATA
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 72/100 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bromochloroacetic acid* Disinfection byproduct |
4.83 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 242× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
12.6 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 209× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
16.6 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 111× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
7.18 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 72× over |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
0.205 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 51× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228) Radiological |
1.11 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 22× over |
| Dibromochloromethane* Disinfection byproduct |
1.81 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 18× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
0.78 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 13× over |
| Nitrate* Inorganic |
1.06 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 7.6× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.108 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 5.4× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
1.63 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 4.1× over |
| Bromoform* Disinfection byproduct |
0.55 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.1× over |
| Mercury (inorganic) Heavy metal |
0.269 ppb | 1.2 | 2.0 | 1 | 6 | 1.2 | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
152.6 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
44.3 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
12.9 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
0.00341 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
0.203 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA)* PFAS |
2.51 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA)* PFAS |
2.11 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.184 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chromium (total) Heavy metal |
0.12 ppb | — | 100.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.469 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Germanium Other |
0.0194 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | 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.
WALDORF - CHARLES COUNTY DPW service area
This water system serves 1 community in Charles County, Maryland. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for LA PLATA water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.