Yes, at low levels. 1 PFAS was detected, all below EPA's 2024 limits.
Also detected, no federal limit: PFPeA.
City of Baltimore is a public water system drawing on surface water, based in Baltimore, Maryland, serving about 1.6 million people, including Baldwin, Chase, Cockeysville, Hunt Valley, Ellicott City, Fork. Under EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule it was tested for 29 PFAS and lithium 12 times across 3 sampling points between Aug 2024 and May 2025.
| PFAS | Detected | Highest | Worst point avg | EPA limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PFPeA Perfluoropentanoic acid |
1 of 12 | 3.0 ppt | 0.8 ppt | none |
Not detected: ADONA, PFHpS, PFHxA, PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, PFHxS, NFDHA, PFEESA, 8:2 FTS, 4:2 FTS, 6:2 FTS, PFUnA, HFPO-DA, PFMPA, 9Cl-PF3ONS, 11Cl-PF3OUdS, PFDoA, PFDA, PFHpA, PFBS, PFPeS, PFMBA, PFTA, PFTrDA, NEtFOSAA, NMeFOSAA, PFBA.
Lithium, tested in the same program: not detected.
In April 2024 EPA set enforceable limits of 4 ppt for PFOA and PFOS, 10 ppt each for PFHxS, PFNA and GenX, and a hazard index of 1 for mixtures. Utilities were given until 2029 to comply. In May 2026 EPA proposed keeping only the PFOA and PFOS limits and moving that deadline to 2031. Until that proposal is final, the 2024 limits stand.
Compliance is judged on a running annual average at each entry point, so we show the average at this system's worst sampling point next to its single highest result. UCMR 5 results do not by themselves put a utility in or out of compliance.
Levels here are under EPA's limits, so no treatment is required. If you want them lower anyway, a certified reverse osmosis system under the sink handles drinking water, and a whole-house carbon filter also takes out the chlorine or chloramine your utility adds.
All 83 tested systems in Maryland
21013 21027 21030 21031 21043 21051 21052 21065 21071 21082 21085 21087 21092 21104 21117 21128 21131 21133 21136 21139 21156 21162 21163 21201 21202 21203 21204 21205 21206 21207 21208 21209 21210 21211 21212 21213 21214 21215 21216 21217 21218 21219 21220 21221 21222 21223 21224 21227 21228 21229 21230 21231 21233 21234 21235 21236 21237 21239 21240 21241 21244 21250 21251 21263 21264 21270 21273 21275 21278 21279 21281 21282 21286 21287 21289 21290 21297 21298
As reported by the utility to EPA. Neighbouring ZIPs are often split between systems; your water bill names yours.
Well & Tap. "PFAS in City of Baltimore water: EPA UCMR 5 results." Data: U.S. EPA Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, final release August 2026, PWSID MD0300002. https://wellandtap.com/pfas/maryland/city-of-baltimore/
Source: U.S. EPA, UCMR 5 occurrence data, final release August 2026 (PWSID MD0300002). Population: EPA SDWIS. Averages count results below the reporting level as zero, the same convention EPA uses for running annual averages. Full method.
