Yes, at low levels. 2 PFAS were detected, all below EPA's 2024 limits.
Also detected, no federal limit: PFPeA, PFHxA.
Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission is a public water system drawing on surface water, based in Laurel, Maryland, serving about 1.9 million people, including Waldorf, Accokeek, Brandywine, Cheltenham, Beltsville, Lanham. Under EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule it was tested for 29 PFAS and lithium 8 times across 2 sampling points between Mar 2023 and Jun 2024.
| PFAS | Detected | Highest | Worst point avg | EPA limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PFPeA Perfluoropentanoic acid |
4 of 8 | 6.7 ppt | 5.0 ppt | none |
| PFHxA Perfluorohexanoic acid |
4 of 8 | 4.8 ppt | 4.2 ppt | none |
Not detected: PFMBA, 11Cl-PF3OUdS, PFUnA, PFDoA, PFDA, PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, PFHxS, 9Cl-PF3ONS, PFBS, PFPeS, PFHpS, NFDHA, PFMPA, 8:2 FTS, PFTA, PFTrDA, NEtFOSAA, NMeFOSAA, PFHpA, HFPO-DA, PFBA, 6:2 FTS, 4:2 FTS, ADONA, PFEESA.
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
20601 20607 20613 20623 20705 20706 20707 20708 20710 20712 20715 20716 20720 20721 20722 20723 20735 20737 20738 20740 20742 20743 20744 20745 20746 20747 20748 20769 20770 20771 20772 20773 20774 20781 20782 20783 20784 20785 20787 20790 20812 20814 20815 20816 20817 20818 20830 20832 20833 20837 20841 20850 20851 20852 20853 20854 20855 20857 20859 20860 20861 20866 20868 20871 20872 20874 20875 20876 20877 20878 20879 20880 20882 20884 20885 20886 20892 20895 20896 20898 20901 20902 20903 20904 20905 20906 20907 20910 20912 20913 20914 20915 20916 21045 21046 21114
As reported by the utility to EPA. Neighbouring ZIPs are often split between systems; your water bill names yours.
Well & Tap. "PFAS in Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission water: EPA UCMR 5 results." Data: U.S. EPA Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, final release August 2026, PWSID MD0150005. https://wellandtap.com/pfas/maryland/washington-suburban-sanitary-commission/
Source: U.S. EPA, UCMR 5 occurrence data, final release August 2026 (PWSID MD0150005). Population: EPA SDWIS. Averages count results below the reporting level as zero, the same convention EPA uses for running annual averages. Full method.
