EWG's drinking water quality report shows
results of tests conducted by the water utility and provided to the Environmental Working Group by the Maryland Department of the Environment, as well as
information from the U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History database (ECHO). For the latest quarter assessed by the U.S. EPA (January 2021 - March 2021), tap water provided by this water utility was in compliance with federal health-based drinking water standards.
Utility Details
Dorchester County, Maryland
Serves: 200
Data available: 2014-2019
Source: Groundwater
Contaminants Detected
1
EXCEED EWG HEALTH GUIDELINES
1 Total Contaminants
Legal does not necessarily equal safe. Getting a passing grade from the federal government does not mean the water meets the latest health guidelines.
Legal limits for contaminants in tap water have not been updated in almost 20 years.
The best way to ensure clean tap water is to keep pollution out of source water in the first place.
Nitrate, a fertilizer chemical, frequently contaminates drinking water due to agricultural and urban runoff, and discharges from municipal wastewater treatment plants and septic tanks. Excessive nitrate in water can cause oxygen deprivation in infants and increase the risk of cancer. Click here to read more about nitrate.
Nitrate was found at 15 times above EWG's Health Guideline.
EWG Health Guideline
0.14 ppm or less
This Utility
2.11 ppm
Legal Limit
10 ppm
National Average
0.935 ppm
State Average
1.51 ppm
The state and national averages were calculated using the averages of the contaminant measurements for each utility in 2017-2019. ppm = parts per million
Health Risks
The EWG Health Guideline of 0.14 ppm for nitrate was defined by EWG . This health guideline protects against cancer and harm to fetal growth and development.
Includes chemicals detected in 2017-2019 for which annual utility averages exceeded an EWG-selected health guideline established by a federal or state public health authority.
Includes .
Other Contaminants Tested
✕
Chemicals tested for but not detected from 2014 to 2019:
One of the best ways to push for cleaner water is to hold accountable the elected officials who have a say in water quality – from city hall and the state legislature to Congress all the way to the Oval Office – by asking questions and demanding answers.
