What was found in Chestertown'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 | 2310 µg/L 23% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: TOWN OF CHESTERTOWN · 5,400 people · 2019 | 2/7 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 1490 µg/L 15% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: TOWN OF CHESTERTOWN · 5,400 people · 2017 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 728.5 µg/L 18% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: TOWN OF CHESTERTOWN · 5,400 people · 2017 | 5/7 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 139.2 µg/L 7% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: TOWN OF CHESTERTOWN · 5,400 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 380 µg/L — KENNEDYVILLE · 300 people · 2018 | 3/7 | SYR4 |
| Gross Beta Particle Activity | 5.4 pCi/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: TOWN OF CHESTERTOWN · 5,400 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 42.7 pCi/L — WORTON · 955 people · 2013 | 3/7 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 32.736 µg/L 41% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: TOWN OF CHESTERTOWN · 5,400 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 36.37 µg/L — FAIRLEE · 725 people · 2019 | 7/7 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 5.684 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: TOWN OF CHESTERTOWN · 5,400 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 16.994 µg/L — WORTON · 955 people · 2019 | 7/7 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 4.408 µg/L 7.3% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: TOWN OF CHESTERTOWN · 5,400 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 11.8045 µg/L — EDESVILLE · 296 people · 2017 | 7/7 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 8.598 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: TOWN OF CHESTERTOWN · 5,400 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 10.555 µg/L — FAIRLEE · 725 people · 2017 | 7/7 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 8.995 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: TOWN OF CHESTERTOWN · 5,400 people · 2019 | 7/7 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 2.0925 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: TOWN OF CHESTERTOWN · 5,400 people · 2015
Highest in the city: 8.8 µg/L — EDESVILLE · 296 people · 2014 | 7/7 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 7.2675 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: TOWN OF CHESTERTOWN · 5,400 people · 2019 | 4/7 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 5.8 pCi/L 39% of the EPA limit 15 pCi/L Main supplier: TOWN OF CHESTERTOWN · 5,400 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 6.3 pCi/L — TOWN OF GALENA · 560 people · 2016 | 3/7 | SYR4 |
| Tetrachloroethylene | 3.79 µg/L 76% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Main supplier: TOWN OF CHESTERTOWN · 5,400 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 3.7 µg/L 3.7% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Main supplier: TOWN OF CHESTERTOWN · 5,400 people · 2017 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 3.065 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: FAIRLEE · 725 people · 2015 | 5/7 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 2.7 pCi/L 54% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Main supplier: TOWN OF CHESTERTOWN · 5,400 people · 2018 | 3/7 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 2.419 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: TOWN OF CHESTERTOWN · 5,400 people · 2015 | 4/7 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 2.165 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: FAIRLEE · 725 people · 2015 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 1.1 µg/L 11% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Highest in the city: FAIRLEE · 725 people · 2018 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate | 1.03 µg/L 17% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L Highest in the city: KENNEDYVILLE · 300 people · 2017 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0012 mg/L 8% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: TOWN OF CHESTERTOWN · 5,400 people · 2023
Highest in the city: 0.0060 mg/L — EDESVILLE · 296 people · 2005 | 6/7 | LCR |
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 Chestertown
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| TOWN OF CHESTERTOWN | 5,400 |
| WORTON | 955 |
| FAIRLEE | 725 |
| TOWN OF GALENA | 560 |
| KENNEDYVILLE | 300 |
| EDESVILLE | 296 |
| MILLINGTON DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM | 260 |
Frequently asked questions about Chestertown tap water
Is Chestertown tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 22 contaminants in the water serving Chestertown. 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 Chestertown?
7 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Chestertown, Maryland to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Chestertown's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Chestertown include Nitrate, Nitrate-Nitrite, Fluoride, Barium, Gross Beta Particle Activity. 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.