Is Baltimore tap water safe to drink?

Yes but with caveats

Baltimore's water meets EPA minimum standards but has some concerns. Filtration is recommended for sensitive individuals.

77/100
Purity Score
2
Issues Found
5.6 GPG
Hardness
Not detected
PFAS

2 Issues Detected in Baltimore

Moderate Chlorine Level

Chlorine within EPA limits but may affect taste.

Chlorine info for Baltimore

Arsenic Approaching Limit (0.3 mg/L)

EPA limit is 0.010 mg/L.

Arsenic info for Baltimore
Maryland

212,012,120,221,203 · Prettyboy Liberty and Loch Raven reservoirs

Baltimore Water Safety and Contaminant Report

Moderate Risk Updated March 2026 1.8M residents
See Best Filters for Baltimore
77
Purity Score

Baltimore's drinking water is sourced from Prettyboy Liberty and Loch Raven reservoirs and treated by Baltimore City Dept of Public Works. This analysis covers PFAS testing, hardness, chlorine levels, lead risk, and overall safety.

Contaminant Levels

PFAS
ND
Lead
6.8 ppb
Nitrate
0.8 mg/L
Arsenic
0.3 mg/L
Hardness
5.6 gpg

Health Insights

  • 1
    Chlorine levels may affect the taste of Baltimore's tap water. A carbon filter improves flavor.

Score

77 /100
Good
"Good" threshold (70)

Baltimore tap water is sourced from Prettyboy Liberty and Loch Raven reservoirs and treated by Baltimore City Dept of Public Works. Overall purity score: 77/100 (Good). Updated for 2026.

Fix Your Water

Best filters matched to Baltimore's 2 issues.

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Explore Baltimore Water Data

PFAS Levels in BaltimorePFAS testing data
Baltimore Lead LevelsLead testing data
Water Hardness in BaltimoreHardness levels
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MarylandState rankings

Baltimore Water FAQ

Is Baltimore MD tap water safe to drink in 2026?
Baltimore tap water meets EPA federal drinking water standards and scores 77/100 (Good) on PurityMap for 2026. For most healthy adults the water is considered safe but point-of-use filtration adds an important layer of protection.
Does Baltimore MD use chlorine or chloramine for disinfection?
Baltimore uses chloramine as the primary disinfectant with a residual level of 1.9 ppm. Chloramine is harder to remove than free chlorine and requires a catalytic carbon or reverse osmosis filter. Standard Brita-style pitchers will NOT remove chloramine.
How hard is Baltimore MD water and what is the TDS level?
Baltimore water hardness is 5.6 grains per gallon (moderate) with a TDS of 195 ppm (fair). This level is unlikely to cause significant scale buildup in household plumbing.
Has PFAS been found in Baltimore MD drinking water?
Based on available EPA UCMR5 monitoring data as of 2026 PFAS have not been detected above EPA advisory levels in Baltimore drinking water.
What is the best water filter for Baltimore?
Based on Baltimore's water profile, we recommend the Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher. Baltimore has elevated chlorine residuals. An under-sink carbon filter removes chlorine and disinfection byproducts at the tap.

Nearby Reports

RockvilleMaryland — 67/100GaithersburgMaryland — 67/100BowieMaryland — 67/100FrederickMaryland — 82/100AnnapolisMaryland — 82/100

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Data Sources

  • EPA SDWIS
  • EWG Tap Water Database
  • Baltimore City Dept of Public Works CCR
  • USGS monitoring data

PurityMap compiles public data. Updated March 2026.

© 2026 PurityMap. For informational purposes only.

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