What was found in Salisbury'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 | 6200 µg/L 62% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF SALISBURY · 30,343 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 11800 µg/L — CEDARHURST MOBILE HOME PARK · 220 people · 2019 | 3/7 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 6068 µg/L 61% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF SALISBURY · 30,343 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 550 µg/L 14% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF SALISBURY · 30,343 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 1008.5 µg/L — OAK TERRACE MOBILE HOME PARK LLC · 30 people · 2019 | 4/7 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 167.15 µg/L 8.4% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF SALISBURY · 30,343 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 177.55 µg/L — CEDARHURST MOBILE HOME PARK · 220 people · 2019 | 2/7 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 12.06 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF SALISBURY · 30,343 people · 2015 | 3/7 | SYR4 |
| Gross Beta Particle Activity | 10.77 pCi/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: OAK TERRACE MOBILE HOME PARK LLC · 30 people · 2018 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 8.55 µg/L 14% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF SALISBURY · 30,343 people · 2019 | 3/7 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 2.4 µg/L 2.4% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF SALISBURY · 30,343 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 7.6025 µg/L — WALSTONS MOBILE HOME PARK · 165 people · 2018 | 3/7 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 5.62 µg/L 7% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF SALISBURY · 30,343 people · 2019 | 2/7 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 1.7 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF SALISBURY · 30,343 people · 2017 | 2/7 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 1.66 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF SALISBURY · 30,343 people · 2017 | 2/7 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 1.62 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF SALISBURY · 30,343 people · 2015 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 1.345 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF SALISBURY · 30,343 people · 2017 | 3/7 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 1.34 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF SALISBURY · 30,343 people · 2017 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 1.2 µg/L 12% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Highest in the city: OAK TERRACE MOBILE HOME PARK LLC · 30 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 1.2 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: WALSTONS MOBILE HOME PARK · 165 people · 2014 | 2/7 | SYR4 |
| Heptachlor Epoxide | 0.1000 µg/L 50% of the EPA limit 0.2000 µg/L Highest in the city: HARBOUR LIGHT ESTATES COMMUNITY · 95 people · 2018 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| 1,2-DIBROMO-3-CHLOROPROPANE | 0.0910 µg/L 45% of the EPA limit 0.2000 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF SALISBURY · 30,343 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| PFOS | 0.0200 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF SALISBURY · 30,343 people · 2023 | 1/7 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 0.0 mg/L 0% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: CITY OF SALISBURY · 30,343 people · 2024
Highest in the city: 0.0183 mg/L — STEEPLECHASE WATERWORKS · 395 people · 2022 | 7/7 | LCR |
| PFBS | 0.0062 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF SALISBURY · 30,343 people · 2023 | 1/7 | UCMR-5 |
| PFHXS | 0.0062 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF SALISBURY · 30,343 people · 2023 | 1/7 | UCMR-5 |
| PFOA | 0.0059 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF SALISBURY · 30,343 people · 2023 | 1/7 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhxa | 0.0041 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF SALISBURY · 30,343 people · 2023 | 1/7 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfpea | 0.0038 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF SALISBURY · 30,343 people · 2023 | 1/7 | UCMR-5 |
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 Salisbury
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| CITY OF SALISBURY | 30,343 |
| STEEPLECHASE WATERWORKS | 395 |
| CEDARHURST MOBILE HOME PARK | 220 |
| WALSTONS MOBILE HOME PARK | 165 |
| HARBOUR LIGHT ESTATES COMMUNITY | 95 |
| NORTHFIELD APARTMENTS | 40 |
| OAK TERRACE MOBILE HOME PARK LLC | 30 |
Frequently asked questions about Salisbury tap water
Is Salisbury tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 25 contaminants in the water serving Salisbury. 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 Salisbury?
7 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Salisbury, Maryland to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Salisbury's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Salisbury include Nitrate, Nitrate-Nitrite, Fluoride, Barium, Dichloroacetic Acid. 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.