What was found in Emmitsburg'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 | 600 µg/L 6% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: TOWN OF EMMITSBURG · 2,921 people · 2014
Highest in the city: 3000 µg/L — MOUNT SAINT MARYS UNIVERSITY · 1,900 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 10 µg/L 0.5% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: TOWN OF EMMITSBURG · 2,921 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 694.1 µg/L — MOUNT SAINT MARYS UNIVERSITY · 1,900 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 540 µg/L 5.4% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: TOWN OF EMMITSBURG · 2,921 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 100 µg/L 2.5% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: TOWN OF EMMITSBURG · 2,921 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 212 µg/L — MOUNT SAINT MARYS UNIVERSITY · 1,900 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 58.16 µg/L 73% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: TOWN OF EMMITSBURG · 2,921 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 42.11 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: TOWN OF EMMITSBURG · 2,921 people · 2018 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 36.86 µg/L 61% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: TOWN OF EMMITSBURG · 2,921 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 23.3 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: TOWN OF EMMITSBURG · 2,921 people · 2015 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 18.68 pCi/L 125% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 15 pCi/L Highest in the city: MOUNT SAINT MARYS UNIVERSITY · 1,900 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 13.5371 µg/L 45% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L Highest in the city: MOUNT SAINT MARYS UNIVERSITY · 1,900 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 12.6275 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: TOWN OF EMMITSBURG · 2,921 people · 2015 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 8.325 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: TOWN OF EMMITSBURG · 2,921 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 8.777 µg/L — MOUNT SAINT MARYS UNIVERSITY · 1,900 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Dalapon | 7.97 µg/L 4% of the EPA limit 200 µg/L Main supplier: TOWN OF EMMITSBURG · 2,921 people · 2018 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Gross Beta Particle Activity | 7.96 pCi/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: MOUNT SAINT MARYS UNIVERSITY · 1,900 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 7 µg/L 70% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Highest in the city: MOUNT SAINT MARYS UNIVERSITY · 1,900 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 2.5115 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: TOWN OF EMMITSBURG · 2,921 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 5.666 µg/L — MOUNT SAINT MARYS UNIVERSITY · 1,900 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 4.874 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: TOWN OF EMMITSBURG · 2,921 people · 2015 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Xylenes, Total | 2.65 µg/L 0% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: TOWN OF EMMITSBURG · 2,921 people · 2018 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 2.5845 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: TOWN OF EMMITSBURG · 2,921 people · 2015 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 2.255 pCi/L 45% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Highest in the city: MOUNT SAINT MARYS UNIVERSITY · 1,900 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 0.5000 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: TOWN OF EMMITSBURG · 2,921 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 1.761 µg/L — MOUNT SAINT MARYS UNIVERSITY · 1,900 people · 2015 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 1.508 µg/L 3% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Highest in the city: MOUNT SAINT MARYS UNIVERSITY · 1,900 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Ethylbenzene | 0.6800 µg/L 0.1% of the EPA limit 700 µg/L Main supplier: TOWN OF EMMITSBURG · 2,921 people · 2018 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Mercury | 0.6000 µg/L 30% of the EPA limit 2 µg/L Main supplier: TOWN OF EMMITSBURG · 2,921 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0 mg/L 0% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: TOWN OF EMMITSBURG · 2,921 people · 2019 | 2/2 | 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 Emmitsburg
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| TOWN OF EMMITSBURG | 2,921 |
| MOUNT SAINT MARYS UNIVERSITY | 1,900 |
Frequently asked questions about Emmitsburg tap water
Is Emmitsburg tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 25 contaminants in the water serving Emmitsburg. 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 Emmitsburg?
2 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Emmitsburg, Maryland to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Emmitsburg's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Emmitsburg include Nitrate, Barium, Nitrate-Nitrite, Fluoride, TTHM. 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.