Statewide Compliance and Testing

• Overall Compliance: The majority of Maryland’s public water systems meet federal Safe Drinking Water Act standards. However, MDE has found PFAS in the majority of water treatment plants it has tested across the state, with mean concentrations in some systems significantly exceeding EPA’s 4 ppt MCLs for PFOA and PFOS. All community water systems and non-transient non-community systems must complete initial PFAS monitoring by 2027 and achieve compliance by April 2029.
• MDE Phase 5 Sampling Complete: MDE’s multi-phase PFAS in Public Drinking Water Study reached Phase 5 — covering non-transient non-community systems including schools and daycares — with sampling completed in January 2025. Results are being used to develop remediation plans and inform which systems will need treatment upgrades ahead of the 2029 deadline. Starting April 2027, all systems must report PFAS results to consumers.
• Infrastructure Investment: Governor Moore included more than $130 million in his FY2026 budget for clean drinking water. In 2025–2026, the Board of Public Works approved $74 million for Baltimore City water projects, $20 million for Hampstead PFAS remediation, and $29 million for the Patapsco Wastewater Treatment Plant — among many other investments. Use our water news page to track new funding announcements.

Major Water Sources and Challenges

• Potomac River System: Primary source for WSSC Water and the Washington metropolitan area, requiring ongoing monitoring for PFAS contamination and protection from upstream pollution sources across the multi-state watershed. WSSC Water’s FY2026 capital programme of $696.8 million is investing heavily in treatment infrastructure and system reliability.
• Chesapeake Bay Watershed: Critical water source for eastern Maryland communities, facing challenges from agricultural runoff, urban development, and climate change. Maryland’s annual Bay cleanup investment — including more than $400 million in the FY2026 Chesapeake Bay and clean water budget — reflects the economic stakes: the Bay contributes roughly $3.2 billion annually in tourism and nearly $600 million from the seafood industry.
• Military Installation Impacts: Significant PFAS contamination documented near Fort Detrick, Fort Meade, Aberdeen Proving Ground, and former Naval facilities where firefighting foam was used for decades. The $20 million state grant to Hampstead (June 2025) — whose drinking water well was removed from service in 2021 due to elevated PFAS — is among the most significant recent remediation investments. Compare contamination profiles across states at our water quality database.

Emerging Contaminant Response

• Industrial PFAS Discharge Deadline — July 2026: Under the Protecting State Waters From PFAS Pollution Act (2024), significant industrial users that intentionally use PFAS must reduce their discharges to waterways by July 1, 2026. MDE developed PFAS monitoring criteria for these industries by January 2025 and established action levels for industrial pretreatment permits by June 2025. This is a key 2026 milestone for Maryland water quality. See our water filter recommendations if you live near an industrial PFAS source.
• PFAS in Sewage Sludge — 2026 Legislative Battle: Legislation limiting PFAS concentrations in sewage sludge used as fertiliser failed in 2025 after local governments raised concerns about shifted liability. The bill is expected to return in the 2026 General Assembly session. This is a significant unresolved pathway for PFAS to enter Maryland groundwater and waterways.
• Landfill PFAS Monitoring (2024 onwards): MDE mandated regular PFAS testing at county landfills in 2024, adding another monitoring stream that will reveal contamination pathways into groundwater and surface water. Results are expected to drive further remediation requirements.

Regional Utility Leadership

• WSSC Water Excellence: As one of the nation’s largest water utilities, WSSC Water maintains an exceptional compliance record. Its approved FY2026 $1.8 billion operating and capital budget — supported by a 9.5% revenue enhancement — funds a $696.8 million capital programme and a six-year Capital Improvements Programme estimated at $4.8 billion through 2031.
• Baltimore City Investment: The Board of Public Works approved $74 million for seven Baltimore City water infrastructure projects in April 2025, including $22.9 million for sewer overflow reduction, $9.9 million for Patapsco Treatment Plant headworks, $6.9 million for lead service line inventory, and solar panel installation at the Montebello water treatment facility. Baltimore City is under a consent decree for permit violations at its Patapsco and Back River plants.
• Chesapeake Bay Protection: Coordinated efforts between utilities, MDE, and interstate partnerships ensure that infrastructure improvements support the Bay restoration programme. Maryland is working toward compliance with nutrient discharge requirements that protect the Bay’s water quality and ecosystem health.

Looking Forward: 2026–2030

Maryland’s water quality landscape in 2026 is defined by converging deadlines and accelerating investment. The July 2026 industrial PFAS discharge reduction deadline is a landmark test of the state’s legislative framework. The 2026 General Assembly session will likely revisit PFAS in sewage sludge — a debate with significant implications for agricultural communities. At the federal level, EPA has confirmed it will retain existing 4 ppt PFOA/PFOS drinking water limits but plans to extend compliance deadlines and offer flexibility for water systems, which may give Maryland utilities more time to build out treatment capacity. With WSSC Water’s six-year $4.8 billion capital programme underway, Governor Moore’s $130M+ clean water budget, and MDE’s multi-phase PFAS testing programme generating actionable data, Maryland has both the investment and the regulatory frameworks to address its contamination challenges — provided political will on sludge and industrial discharge remains strong. Track developments in our water news section and check the live boil water notices tracker for any active Maryland advisories.