What was found in Berlin's water
The level at the city's main supplier, the highest level anywhere in the city, the EPA limit for each, and where every figure comes from.
| Contaminant | Level vs EPA limit | Suppliers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate | 4837.5 µg/L 48% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: OCEAN PINES · 11,890 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 5600 µg/L — TOWN OF BERLIN · 4,500 people · 2019 | 6/10 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 175.95 µg/L 4.4% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Highest in the city: RIDDLE FARM · 500 people · 2018 | 5/10 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 22.125 µg/L 28% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: OCEAN PINES · 11,890 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 93.615 µg/L — NANTUCKET POINT(DISTRIBUTION-DELAWARE) · 500 people · 2019 | 10/10 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 75.32 µg/L 3.8% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: OCEAN PINES · 11,890 people · 2018 | 4/10 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 6.31 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: OCEAN PINES · 11,890 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 75.04 µg/L — NANTUCKET POINT(DISTRIBUTION-DELAWARE) · 500 people · 2016 | 9/10 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 5.41 µg/L 9% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: OCEAN PINES · 11,890 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 50.98 µg/L — NANTUCKET POINT(DISTRIBUTION-DELAWARE) · 500 people · 2019 | 10/10 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 31.61 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: NANTUCKET POINT(DISTRIBUTION-DELAWARE) · 500 people · 2016 | 7/10 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 7.6735 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: OCEAN PINES · 11,890 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 27.547 µg/L — RIDDLE FARM · 500 people · 2019 | 10/10 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 3.049 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: OCEAN PINES · 11,890 people · 2014
Highest in the city: 25.12 µg/L — NANTUCKET POINT(DISTRIBUTION-DELAWARE) · 500 people · 2016 | 8/10 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 8.517 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: OCEAN PINES · 11,890 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 18.081 µg/L — RIDDLE FARM · 500 people · 2019 | 9/10 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 10.6 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: ST. MARTINS BY THE BAY · 120 people · 2015 | 1/10 | SYR4 |
| Gross Beta Particle Activity | 10.4 pCi/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: MYSTIC HARBOUR · 5,945 people · 2014 | 3/10 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 5.39 µg/L 11% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Main supplier: OCEAN PINES · 11,890 people · 2018 | 4/10 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 3.888 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: OCEAN PINES · 11,890 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 5.19 µg/L — BRIDDLETOWN DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM · 150 people · 2014 | 4/10 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 3.0375 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: OCEAN PINES · 11,890 people · 2014
Highest in the city: 5.167 µg/L — RIDDLE FARM · 500 people · 2015 | 7/10 | SYR4 |
| Cadmium | 4.9 µg/L 98% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Highest in the city: MYSTIC HARBOUR · 5,945 people · 2019 | 3/10 | SYR4 |
| Hexachlorocyclopentadiene | 4.9 µg/L 9.8% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Highest in the city: RIDDLE FARM · 500 people · 2018 | 1/10 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 3.59 pCi/L 24% of the EPA limit 15 pCi/L Highest in the city: TOWN OF BERLIN · 4,500 people · 2017 | 2/10 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 1.83 µg/L 1.8% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Main supplier: OCEAN PINES · 11,890 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 2.085 µg/L — TOWN OF BERLIN · 4,500 people · 2018 | 4/10 | SYR4 |
| Thallium, Total | 1.8 µg/L 90% of the EPA limit 2 µg/L Main supplier: OCEAN PINES · 11,890 people · 2018 | 1/10 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 1.75 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: PIN OAK APARTMENTS · 40 people · 2014 | 3/10 | SYR4 |
| Xylenes, Total | 1.7 µg/L 0% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Highest in the city: RIDDLE FARM · 500 people · 2019 | 1/10 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 1.1 µg/L 11% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Highest in the city: PIN OAK APARTMENTS · 40 people · 2018 | 1/10 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 1 pCi/L 20% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Highest in the city: TOWN OF BERLIN · 4,500 people · 2017 | 2/10 | SYR4 |
| Carbon Tetrachloride | 0.7000 µg/L 14% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Highest in the city: RIDDLE FARM · 500 people · 2019 | 1/10 | SYR4 |
| Beryllium, Total | 0.4900 µg/L 12% of the EPA limit 4 µg/L Main supplier: OCEAN PINES · 11,890 people · 2018 | 1/10 | SYR4 |
| Heptachlor Epoxide | 0.1700 µg/L 85% of the EPA limit 0.2000 µg/L Highest in the city: RIDDLE FARM · 500 people · 2018 | 1/10 | SYR4 |
| Benzo(A)Pyrene | 0.1100 µg/L 55% of the EPA limit 0.2000 µg/L Highest in the city: RIDDLE FARM · 500 people · 2018 | 1/10 | SYR4 |
| Pfba | 0.0078 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: OCEAN PINES · 11,890 people · 2025 | 1/10 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfpea | 0.0068 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: TOWN OF BERLIN · 4,500 people · 2023 | 1/10 | UCMR-5 |
| PFHXS | 0.0049 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: TOWN OF BERLIN · 4,500 people · 2023 | 1/10 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhxa | 0.0048 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: TOWN OF BERLIN · 4,500 people · 2023 | 1/10 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 0.0033 mg/L 22% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: OCEAN PINES · 11,890 people · 2023
Highest in the city: 0.0046 mg/L — TOWN OF BERLIN · 4,500 people · 2024 | 10/10 | LCR |
| PFBS | 0.0037 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: OCEAN PINES · 11,890 people · 2025 | 1/10 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhpa | 0.0035 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: TOWN OF BERLIN · 4,500 people · 2023 | 1/10 | UCMR-5 |
Each bar shows the measured level as a share of the EPA limit: green is
well under, amber is close to it, red is over. For lead and copper the
limit applies to exactly the 90th-percentile figure shown, so red there
means a real exceedance. For everything else the limit applies to a
running annual average while the figure is the 95th percentile of the
system's samples — over 100% is worth reading, but is not by itself a
violation.
Formal violations are listed separately.
These are the utilities' own EPA-reported results, not a city-wide
average. A detection means the lab measured the
substance — it isn't the same as exceeding a legal limit. Hover a source
tag to see the EPA program and years behind each figure.
Water suppliers serving Berlin
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| OCEAN PINES | 11,890 |
| MYSTIC HARBOUR | 5,945 |
| TOWN OF BERLIN | 4,500 |
| RIDDLE FARM | 500 |
| NANTUCKET POINT(DISTRIBUTION-DELAWARE) | 500 |
| NEWARK | 325 |
| BRIDDLETOWN DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM | 150 |
| ST. MARTINS BY THE BAY | 120 |
| SUNSET LAKES LLC | 48 |
| PIN OAK APARTMENTS | 40 |
Frequently asked questions about Berlin tap water
Is Berlin tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 35 contaminants in the water serving Berlin. A detection isn't the same as a violation — most detected levels are within federal limits. Check the level and source for each contaminant above, and your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report for the official compliance status.
How many water suppliers serve Berlin?
10 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Berlin, Maryland to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Berlin's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Berlin include Nitrate, Fluoride, TTHM, Barium, Chloroform. The full list, with the level at the main supplier and the data source, is in the table above.
Where does this data come from?
Every figure is official EPA drinking-water monitoring — the Lead & Copper Rule, the UCMR-5 nationwide testing program, and the EPA Six-Year Review — not our own testing. Each number is labelled with its source and period.