County · Maryland
Howard County, Maryland: water testing & quality
Find where to test your water, which utility report to read and where to check official notices in Howard County. Explore the EPA records below for the reported measurements.
Data as of EPA UCMR 5 final release, August 2026 (file dated Aug 28, 2026) · EPA SDWIS 2026Q2 (file dated Jul 9, 2026). How we build these pages
Start with your water
Local answers. A clear next step.
Private wells & testing
How can I test my well water in Howard County?
The county Health Department typically collects samples from established private wells for bacteria and nitrate testing at the state laboratory. Call 410-313-1773 to arrange sampling and confirm laboratory charges. For other contaminants, ask about the specific tests and certified laboratories you need.
Arrange Howard County well testingHoward County Health Department · Source reviewed
Public water systems
Which report applies to my home?
Start with the supplier on your water bill. A county can include several utilities; their reports describe their own systems. Find the supplier below, then check its annual Consumer Confidence Report.
Find a water system in Howard CountyBrowse testing, report and notice sourcesDrinking-water records
EPA survey and compliance records are historical reports. UCMR 5 results are available for 1 of the 4 listed systems in this snapshot. A system with no reported PFAS detection is not a test of every tap or every contaminant.
System population figures are summed from EPA registry records and can overlap where wholesalers and retail systems serve the same people. They are not a Census county-population estimate.
Water systems in this county
All 4 active community systems in the available county records, sorted by record completeness. Scroll the table to explore more systems.
| Water system | People served | PFAS survey results | PFAS found | Health-based violations | Lead, 9 in 10 homes at or below |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Howard County D.P.W. Distribution MD0130002 | 286,158 | 240 | 2 | 0 | 3 ppbbelow the action level |
| Lutheran Village at Miller'S Grant MD0130007 | 315 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 ppbbelow the action level |
| Villas at Cattail Creek MD0130005 | 170 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1.8 ppbbelow the action level |
| Lighthouse Senior Living Ellicott City MD0130006 | 113 | 0 | 0 | 0 | not reported |
USGS · Monitoring stations
The water, more recently.
Available station readings in Howard County, Maryland. Each measurement keeps its time, unit and original source.
These readings describe water at a monitoring station. They do not test your tap, measure PFAS or lead, or determine whether water is safe to drink or swim in.
Recent observations load when this section comes into view.
How these readings update
We check for updates every 10 minutes while this section is visible and show supported observations from the last 48 hours. The time beside a reading is when USGS measured it; the checked time is when our service retrieved the response. We mark a reading more than 6 hours old as older. Provisional observations can change after USGS review. A missing reading does not mean zero or clean water.
Temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, conductivity, streamflow and water level are shown only where a station reports them. Different measurements have different units and sampling intervals. USGS data and documentation.
Your next step
Water testing, reports & local help.
Official resources reviewed for Howard County: where to arrange testing, find a water report and check notices. Confirm current services and availability with the named agency.
Howard County and state resources
Water testing
Arrange a Howard County private-well water test
The Health Department typically collects samples from established private wells for bacteria and nitrate testing at the state laboratory. Call 410-313-1773 to discuss sampling. The county does not charge for collection, but laboratory charges may apply; additional contaminants need separate testing arrangements.
Water testing
Find a Maryland-certified water laboratory
Use MDE’s directory of certified laboratories, approved tests, and certified water samplers. Check the tests offered and sampling arrangements with the laboratory you choose.
Public records
Read Howard County’s 2026 public-water report
The county utility’s 2026 report covers the 2025 testing period for its public-water system. It explains the areas supplied through Baltimore City and WSSC. The report applies to connected customers and does not describe the condition of individual private wells.
Public records
Find Howard County well permits and maintenance guidance
The Well & Septic Program provides guidance and forms for well installation, repair, and property-related approvals. These services concern private wells and on-site septic systems; contact the program to find the documents or services relevant to your property.
Official notices
Check Howard County utility repairs and notifications
The Bureau of Utilities lists emergency and scheduled repairs with affected locations and links to its update subscription. A repair listing describes utility work, not a countywide contamination finding. Follow any instructions issued for your own service area.
More help from EPA and USGS National directories
Water testing
Find your state’s private-well program
EPA’s state directory points well owners to local program information. Services and eligibility vary by state and county.
Water testing
Find a certified drinking-water laboratory
Use EPA’s directory to reach your state’s laboratory certification program. EPA does not provide on-request testing of residential drinking water.
Public records
Find your utility’s Consumer Confidence Report
EPA links to community water-system reports and explains how to read them. Look for your actual supplier rather than assuming every address in a county shares one system.
Public records
Explore USGS water observations
Find current and historical observations from USGS monitoring locations, including available stream, lake, and groundwater data. Measurements vary by station and do not replace a test of your household water.
A county overview cannot identify every property’s water provider. If you use a public water system, confirm its name on your bill and request its annual Consumer Confidence Report. Private wells need their own testing; public-system records do not describe a private well.
Understand water testing and laboratory reportsResource descriptions are compiled by Tap Water Lookup. Review dates describe our source check, not a new water sample. How we review sources · Suggest a correction
Explore your area
Local coverage in Howard County
20ZIP areas in this overview
Explore the water-system records, recent station readings and testing resources on this county page. They describe the systems and stations identified in each section; they are not a separate water test for every community.
Towns and communities
- Columbia
- Eldersburg
- Elkridge
- Ellicott City
- Fulton
- Highland
- Jessup
- Lisbon
- North Laurel
- Savage
View ZIP areas and understand coverage
- 20701Jessup
- 20723North Laurel
- 20759Fulton
- 20763Savage
- 20777Highland
- 20794Jessup
- 21029Columbia
- 21036
- 21042Ellicott City
- 21043Ellicott City
- 21044Columbia
- 21045Columbia
- 21046Columbia
- 21075Elkridge
- 21104Eldersburg
- 21723
- 21737
- 21738
- 21794
- 21797Lisbon
These Census ZIP Code Tabulation Areas are grouped here by their largest county overlap. A ZIP area can cross county lines and contain several water suppliers or private wells. Place labels reflect Census geography, not verified postal city names or utility service boundaries.
Records for these areas are currently presented in this county overview rather than individual ZIP reports. An unpublished report does not mean there are no water records. Confirm your supplier on your water bill; if you use a private well, testing your own well is the relevant next step.
Sources and scope
EPA UCMR 5 occurrence data, samples collected 2023-01-03 – 2026-06-17, final release, August 2026 (file dated Aug 28, 2026); EPA SDWIS via ECHO, 2026Q2 extract (file dated Jul 9, 2026); EPA service-area boundaries v3.0; Census 2020 ZCTAs. Database prepared 2026-09-03.
Counts cover the systems that report this county to EPA. A water system may cross county lines. "Found" means at least one result at or above the laboratory reporting level; it is not a compliance finding.
Compiled by Tap Water Lookup from the sources identified on this page. Read the methodology and review process.