What was found in Ocean City'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 | 618.15 µg/L 6.2% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: TOWN OF OCEAN CITY · 30,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 4050 µg/L — BB APARTMENTS (PREV WOC VILLAGE APTS) · 40 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 200 µg/L 5% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: TOWN OF OCEAN CITY · 30,000 people · 2018 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 86.065 µg/L 108% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 80 µg/L Main supplier: TOWN OF OCEAN CITY · 30,000 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 31.14 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: TOWN OF OCEAN CITY · 30,000 people · 2015 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 27.225 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: TOWN OF OCEAN CITY · 30,000 people · 2015 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 24 µg/L 1.2% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: TOWN OF OCEAN CITY · 30,000 people · 2015 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 21.785 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: TOWN OF OCEAN CITY · 30,000 people · 2015 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 20.86 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: TOWN OF OCEAN CITY · 30,000 people · 2015 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 19.04 µg/L 32% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: TOWN OF OCEAN CITY · 30,000 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Gross Beta Particle Activity | 9.855 pCi/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: TOWN OF OCEAN CITY · 30,000 people · 2018 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 9.57 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: TOWN OF OCEAN CITY · 30,000 people · 2025 | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 8.1 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: TOWN OF OCEAN CITY · 30,000 people · 2015 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 7.165 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: TOWN OF OCEAN CITY · 30,000 people · 2015 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 6.43 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: TOWN OF OCEAN CITY · 30,000 people · 2015 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 6.18 µg/L 6.2% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Main supplier: TOWN OF OCEAN CITY · 30,000 people · 2018 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 6.14 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: TOWN OF OCEAN CITY · 30,000 people · 2015 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0028 mg/L 19% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: TOWN OF OCEAN CITY · 30,000 people · 2024
Highest in the city: 0.0041 mg/L — DELMARVA MOBILE HOME PARK · 62 people · 2024 | 4/4 | LCR |
Water suppliers serving Ocean City
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| TOWN OF OCEAN CITY | 30,000 |
| DELMARVA MOBILE HOME PARK | 62 |
| BB APARTMENTS (PREV WOC VILLAGE APTS) | 40 |
| FOUR SEASONS PARK INC. | 25 |
Frequently asked questions about Ocean City tap water
Is Ocean City tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 17 contaminants in the water serving Ocean City. 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 Ocean City?
4 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Ocean City, Maryland to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Ocean City's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Ocean City include Nitrate, Fluoride, TTHM, Dibromochloromethane, Bromodichloromethane. 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.