Short answer: No measured result is above a legal limit. Howard County Department of Public Works serves 286,158 residents.
Your water bill or annual water quality report names your actual supplier.
Howard County Department of Public Works: contact and record
Also supplies: Ellicott City, Ilchester, North Laurel, Elkridge
HOWARD COUNTY D.P.W. DISTRIBUTION (EPA PWSID MD0130002) delivers surface water to 286,158 residents. This report reflects 29 individual PFAS result(s) from the source UCMR5 observations and the latest Lead & Copper Rule 90th-percentile result. Water hardness and disinfectant type are pending the utility's own annual report.
0health-based violations in the last 10 years
From EPA SDWIS. A clean violation history means no enforcement action was recorded; it does not cover contaminants without a limit.
No result is not a pass. Your utility's annual water quality report may list them, and a certified lab test covers your own tap.
Plumbing inside a home can add lead that the system record can't show. A tap test tells you what reaches your glass.
lead 3 µg/L, below the 15 µg/L action level (detected below the limit); 1 galvanized line to replace (context, not a tap measurement)
PFHxA 3.4 ng/L, below the 400000 ng/L state limit (+1 more PFAS detected)
Screening tells you if something is worth a closer look; a lab result is the number you can act on.
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Screening: quick check, not lab-grade
Safe Home (EnviroTestKits)
Lead, read as one of three ranges: 0–4, 5–15 or 15+ ppb
What it can't tell you: It shows a lead range, not an exact level, and tests nothing else unless you pay extra for the optional lab test.
Lab-certified results
ETR Laboratories
50+ substances, including lead, copper, arsenic, nitrate, hardness and coliform bacteria
What it can't tell you: It does not test PFAS, and not every result on the panel falls under the lab's accredited scope.
When your results arrive, read them here →
Each card names which Columbia findings its current certification covers, and which it doesn't.
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PurityMap does not give a safe/unsafe verdict; it shows what the public records measured. For Columbia, PFAS were detected below their limits, and PFPeA 3.6 ng/L with no federal or state limit; the lead 90th-percentile result was 3 µg/L against the 15 µg/L action level. HOWARD COUNTY D.P.W. DISTRIBUTION (PWSID MD0130002) has a Purity Score of 97/100 (confidence: moderate), assessed at the water-system level and computed only from contaminants that were measured. Water can change in your own pipes, so a certified test is the only way to know what comes out of your tap.
HOWARD COUNTY D.P.W. DISTRIBUTION (PWS ID MD0130002) is the public water system on record for Columbia, Maryland, serving about 286,158 people. Confirm the utility on your water bill before acting on a specific finding.
Surface water (primary source of record in EPA SDWIS).
In EPA's UCMR 5 testing (2023-06-28 to 2024-04-17), PFHxA was detected at 3.4 ng/L, below the 400,000 ng/L state limit. PFPeA (3.6 ng/L) was also detected; it has no federal or state limit.
HOWARD COUNTY D.P.W. DISTRIBUTION's most recent lead 90th-percentile result (2018–2020) was 3 µg/L, below the 15 µg/L action level. That figure comes from sampled homes; lead usually enters from a building's own pipes and fixtures, so only a test at your tap tells you what you drink.
PurityMap's current record for Columbia holds 31 findings: 2 detected within the reference, 1 detected with no limit and 28 not detected. Each finding links to its dated public record; a parameter that was never monitored is shown as pending, not as a pass.
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| Contaminant | Result | Benchmark | Status | Sampled | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lead (90th percentile) | 3 µg/L | 15 µg/L federal action level | Below the listed reference | 2018–2020 monitoring period | Lead & Copper Rule 90th-percentile: HOWARD COUNTY D.P.W. DISTRIBUTION (MD0130002) |
| Perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) | 3.4 ng/L | 400,000 ng/L Michigan EGLE state MCL (strictest US state) | Within a historical reference; current applicability unverified | 2023-06-28 to 2024-04-17 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: HOWARD COUNTY D.P.W. DISTRIBUTION (MD0130002) |
| Perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA) | 3.6 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | Detected, no limit | 2023-06-28 to 2024-04-17 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: HOWARD COUNTY D.P.W. DISTRIBUTION (MD0130002) |
| Contaminant | Result | Benchmark | Status | Sampled | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11-Chloroeicosafluoro-3-oxaundecane-1-sulfonic acid (11Cl-PF3OUdS) | < 5 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2023-06-28 to 2024-04-17 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: HOWARD COUNTY D.P.W. DISTRIBUTION (MD0130002) |
| 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorodecane sulfonic acid (8:2 FTS) | < 5 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2023-06-28 to 2024-04-17 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: HOWARD COUNTY D.P.W. DISTRIBUTION (MD0130002) |
| 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (4:2 FTS) | < 3 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2023-06-28 to 2024-04-17 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: HOWARD COUNTY D.P.W. DISTRIBUTION (MD0130002) |
| 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (6:2 FTS) | < 5 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2023-06-28 to 2024-04-17 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: HOWARD COUNTY D.P.W. DISTRIBUTION (MD0130002) |
| 4,8-Dioxa-3H-perfluorononanoic acid (ADONA) | < 3 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2023-06-28 to 2024-04-17 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: HOWARD COUNTY D.P.W. DISTRIBUTION (MD0130002) |
| 9-Chlorohexadecafluoro-3-oxanone-1-sulfonic acid (9Cl-PF3ONS) | < 2 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2023-06-28 to 2024-04-17 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: HOWARD COUNTY D.P.W. DISTRIBUTION (MD0130002) |
| Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA) (GenX chemicals) | < 5 ng/L | 10 ng/L federal MCL (2024) | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2023-06-28 to 2024-04-17 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: HOWARD COUNTY D.P.W. DISTRIBUTION (MD0130002) |
| Lithium | < 9 µg/L | 10 µg/L EPA health reference level (screening, not a legal limit)Screening level, not a legal limit | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2023-06-28 to 2024-03-19 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: HOWARD COUNTY D.P.W. DISTRIBUTION (MD0130002) |
| N-ethyl perfluorooctanesulfonamidoacetic acid (NEtFOSAA) | < 5 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2023-06-28 to 2024-03-19 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: HOWARD COUNTY D.P.W. DISTRIBUTION (MD0130002) |
| N-methyl perfluorooctanesulfonamidoacetic acid (NMeFOSAA) | < 6 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2023-06-28 to 2024-03-19 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: HOWARD COUNTY D.P.W. DISTRIBUTION (MD0130002) |
| Nonafluoro-3,6-dioxaheptanoic acid (NFDHA) | < 20 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2023-06-28 to 2024-04-17 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: HOWARD COUNTY D.P.W. DISTRIBUTION (MD0130002) |
| Perfluoro (2-ethoxyethane) sulfonic acid (PFEESA) | < 3 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2023-06-28 to 2024-04-17 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: HOWARD COUNTY D.P.W. DISTRIBUTION (MD0130002) |
| Perfluoro-3-methoxypropanoic acid (PFMPA) | < 4 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2023-06-28 to 2024-04-17 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: HOWARD COUNTY D.P.W. DISTRIBUTION (MD0130002) |
| Perfluoro-4-methoxybutanoic acid (PFMBA) | < 3 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2023-06-28 to 2024-04-17 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: HOWARD COUNTY D.P.W. DISTRIBUTION (MD0130002) |
| Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS) | < 3 ng/L | 2,000 ng/L EPA health advisory (screening, not a legal limit)Screening level, not a legal limit | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2023-06-28 to 2024-04-17 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: HOWARD COUNTY D.P.W. DISTRIBUTION (MD0130002) |
| Perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) | < 5 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2023-06-28 to 2024-04-17 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: HOWARD COUNTY D.P.W. DISTRIBUTION (MD0130002) |
| Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) | < 3 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2023-06-28 to 2024-04-17 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: HOWARD COUNTY D.P.W. DISTRIBUTION (MD0130002) |
| Perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoA) | < 3 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2023-06-28 to 2024-04-17 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: HOWARD COUNTY D.P.W. DISTRIBUTION (MD0130002) |
| Perfluoroheptanesulfonic acid (PFHpS) | < 3 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2023-06-28 to 2024-04-17 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: HOWARD COUNTY D.P.W. DISTRIBUTION (MD0130002) |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA) | < 3 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2023-06-28 to 2024-04-17 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: HOWARD COUNTY D.P.W. DISTRIBUTION (MD0130002) |
| Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS) | < 3 ng/L | 10 ng/L federal MCL (2024) | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2023-06-28 to 2024-04-17 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: HOWARD COUNTY D.P.W. DISTRIBUTION (MD0130002) |
| Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) | < 4 ng/L | 10 ng/L federal MCL (2024) | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2023-06-28 to 2024-04-17 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: HOWARD COUNTY D.P.W. DISTRIBUTION (MD0130002) |
| Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) | < 4 ng/L | 4.0 ng/L federal MCL (2024) | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2023-06-28 to 2024-04-17 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: HOWARD COUNTY D.P.W. DISTRIBUTION (MD0130002) |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) | < 4 ng/L | 4.0 ng/L federal MCL (2024) | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2023-06-28 to 2024-04-17 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: HOWARD COUNTY D.P.W. DISTRIBUTION (MD0130002) |
| Perfluoropentanesulfonic acid (PFPeS) | < 4 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2023-06-28 to 2024-04-17 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: HOWARD COUNTY D.P.W. DISTRIBUTION (MD0130002) |
| Perfluorotetradecanoic acid (PFTA) | < 8 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2023-06-28 to 2024-03-19 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: HOWARD COUNTY D.P.W. DISTRIBUTION (MD0130002) |
| Perfluorotridecanoic acid (PFTrDA) | < 7 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2023-06-28 to 2024-03-19 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: HOWARD COUNTY D.P.W. DISTRIBUTION (MD0130002) |
| Perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnA) | < 2 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | Not detected above the reporting limit | 2023-06-28 to 2024-04-17 | UCMR5 Analytical Results: HOWARD COUNTY D.P.W. DISTRIBUTION (MD0130002) |
Perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA)
Perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA)
11-Chloroeicosafluoro-3-oxaundecane-1-sulfonic acid (11Cl-PF3OUdS)
1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorodecane sulfonic acid (8:2 FTS)
1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (4:2 FTS)
1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (6:2 FTS)
4,8-Dioxa-3H-perfluorononanoic acid (ADONA)
9-Chlorohexadecafluoro-3-oxanone-1-sulfonic acid (9Cl-PF3ONS)
Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA) (GenX chemicals)
N-ethyl perfluorooctanesulfonamidoacetic acid (NEtFOSAA)
N-methyl perfluorooctanesulfonamidoacetic acid (NMeFOSAA)
Nonafluoro-3,6-dioxaheptanoic acid (NFDHA)
Perfluoro (2-ethoxyethane) sulfonic acid (PFEESA)
Perfluoro-3-methoxypropanoic acid (PFMPA)
Perfluoro-4-methoxybutanoic acid (PFMBA)
Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS)
Perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoA)
Perfluoroheptanesulfonic acid (PFHpS)
Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA)
Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS)
Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS)
Perfluoropentanesulfonic acid (PFPeS)
Perfluorotetradecanoic acid (PFTA)
Perfluorotridecanoic acid (PFTrDA)
Perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnA)
Every value is the published result from the cited public record. A reporting limit is the lowest level the method could reliably quantify; a non-detect is not a guarantee of zero.
UCMR5 Analytical Results
UCMR5 Analytical Results: HOWARD COUNTY D.P.W. DISTRIBUTION (MD0130002)
US EPA
State SDWIS Compliance Record
Lead & Copper Rule 90th-percentile: HOWARD COUNTY D.P.W. DISTRIBUTION (MD0130002)
US EPA SDWIS
Methodology: how we analyze water. Prepared with AI assistance and reviewed by the PurityMap Editorial Team before publication.
Start with the hot-or-cold tap check. Where Howard County Department of Public Works reported something related, it's shown below.
Lead at Howard County Department of Public Works: 3 µg/L (90th percentile, 2018–2020 monitoring period). Lead has no taste, so a taste neither shows nor rules it out.
A ZIP code is a postal area, not a water service area. Your water bill names your supplier.