What was found in Indian Head'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 | 3600 µg/L 36% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Highest in the city: POTOMAC HEIGHTS · 1,800 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 1550 µg/L 39% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: TOWN OF INDIAN HEAD · 4,100 people · 2018 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 14.68 µg/L 18% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: TOWN OF INDIAN HEAD · 4,100 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 40.74 µg/L — NAVAL SUPPORT FACILITY, INDIAN HEAD · 3,321 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 10 µg/L 0.5% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: TOWN OF INDIAN HEAD · 4,100 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 23.95 µg/L — NAVAL SUPPORT FACILITY, INDIAN HEAD · 3,321 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 0.8000 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: TOWN OF INDIAN HEAD · 4,100 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 21.65 µg/L — NAVAL SUPPORT FACILITY, INDIAN HEAD · 3,321 people · 2015 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 3.47 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: TOWN OF INDIAN HEAD · 4,100 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 20.32 µg/L — NAVAL SUPPORT FACILITY, INDIAN HEAD · 3,321 people · 2015 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 2.405 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: TOWN OF INDIAN HEAD · 4,100 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 17.24 µg/L — NAVAL SUPPORT FACILITY, INDIAN HEAD · 3,321 people · 2015 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 17.055 pCi/L 114% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 15 pCi/L Main supplier: TOWN OF INDIAN HEAD · 4,100 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 16.4 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: NAVAL SUPPORT FACILITY, INDIAN HEAD · 3,321 people · 2025 | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| Selenium | 13 µg/L 26% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Highest in the city: NAVAL SUPPORT FACILITY, INDIAN HEAD · 3,321 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 1.41 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: TOWN OF INDIAN HEAD · 4,100 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 11.5 µg/L — NAVAL SUPPORT FACILITY, INDIAN HEAD · 3,321 people · 2015 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 6.04 µg/L 10% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: TOWN OF INDIAN HEAD · 4,100 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 8.995 µg/L — NAVAL SUPPORT FACILITY, INDIAN HEAD · 3,321 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Toluene | 7.1 µg/L 0.7% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Highest in the city: NAVAL SUPPORT FACILITY, INDIAN HEAD · 3,321 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 1.965 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: TOWN OF INDIAN HEAD · 4,100 people · 2014
Highest in the city: 6.84 µg/L — NAVAL SUPPORT FACILITY, INDIAN HEAD · 3,321 people · 2014 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Gross Beta Particle Activity | 5.73 pCi/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: TOWN OF INDIAN HEAD · 4,100 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 6.35 pCi/L — POTOMAC HEIGHTS · 1,800 people · 2013 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 4.685 µg/L 4.7% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Highest in the city: NAVAL SUPPORT FACILITY, INDIAN HEAD · 3,321 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Dichloromethane | 3.3 µg/L 66% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Highest in the city: NAVAL SUPPORT FACILITY, INDIAN HEAD · 3,321 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 1.91 pCi/L 38% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Main supplier: TOWN OF INDIAN HEAD · 4,100 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 1.3 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: NAVAL SUPPORT FACILITY, INDIAN HEAD · 3,321 people · 2014 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 1.1 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: NAVAL SUPPORT FACILITY, INDIAN HEAD · 3,321 people · 2014 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 1.1 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: TOWN OF INDIAN HEAD · 4,100 people · 2014 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0 mg/L 0% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: TOWN OF INDIAN HEAD · 4,100 people · 2023
Highest in the city: 0.0057 mg/L — NAVAL SUPPORT FACILITY, INDIAN HEAD · 3,321 people · 2025 | 4/4 | 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 Indian Head
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| TOWN OF INDIAN HEAD | 4,100 |
| NAVAL SUPPORT FACILITY, INDIAN HEAD | 3,321 |
| POTOMAC HEIGHTS | 1,800 |
| GREEN MEADOWS WATER COMPANY | 132 |
Frequently asked questions about Indian Head tap water
Is Indian Head tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 22 contaminants in the water serving Indian Head. 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 Indian Head?
4 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Indian Head, Maryland to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Indian Head's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Indian Head 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.