Public water system · MD0130002
ActiveHoward County D.P.W. Distribution
At a glance
Howard County D.P.W. Distribution (PWSID MD0130002) is an active community water system in Howard County, Maryland. It reports serving 286,158 people through 79,084 service connections. Its primary water source is purchased surface water, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. EPA's records list 6 violations for this system; none is health-based, and the most recent began in July 2022.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
286,158
Service connections
79,084
Primary source
SWP
Purchased surface water
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Howard County D.P.W. Distribution compare with other water systems in Howard County?
By EPA's size categories, Howard County D.P.W. Distribution is a very large system (more than 100,000 people). Howard County has 87 active public water systems, and Howard County D.P.W. Distribution is the largest of them by population served. Its population served is about 80 times the county average of 3,556 people per system, and accounts for 93% of the 309,341 people reported by systems filed under the county. Across Maryland, the 2,992 active systems average 1,947 people each. Nationally, the average active community water system reports serving 6,703 people, so Howard County D.P.W. Distribution is about 43 times that figure.
What does “community water system” mean?
A community water system serves at least 15 connections used by year-round residents, or regularly serves at least 25 year-round residents. Homes, apartments and mobile-home parks are served by these. Maryland has 422 active community water systems, 14% of the state's 2,992 active systems. Purchased surface water means the system buys surface water from another public water system rather than drawing its own. 48 Maryland systems (1.6%) list purchased surface water as their primary source.
Who owns and regulates Howard County D.P.W. Distribution?
EPA lists Howard County D.P.W. Distribution as owned by a local government. The MD state drinking water program is its primacy agency, the regulator with primary enforcement responsibility for the system under the Safe Drinking Water Act. 22 of the 87 active systems in Howard County (25%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Howard County D.P.W. Distribution have drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 6 violations for this system; none is health-based, and the most recent began in July 2022. The violations listed here began between January 1992 and July 2022. By type: 5 monitoring and reporting and 1 public notice, recordkeeping or other. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Lead and Copper Rule (3 of them). EPA lists 6 as resolved. Resolved means at least one resolving action is on record: the system returned to compliance, the rule no longer applies, or no further action was needed.
| Began | Violation | Contaminant or rule | Health-based | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-07-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherConsumer Confidence Report Complete Failure to Report · code 71 | Consumer Confidence Rulecode 7000 | No | Resolved |
| 2017-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingFollow-up Or Routine LCR Tap M/R · code 52 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
| 2015-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingLead Consumer Notice · code 66 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
| 2011-12-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Major (TCR) · code 23 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 2010-04-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Minor (TCR) · code 24 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 1992-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingWater Quality Parameter M/R · code 53 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
All 6 violations in EPA's records, newest first.Labels and codes come from EPA's SDWIS reference tables. A monitoring or reporting violation means a required test or report was missed or late; it does not by itself mean a contaminant was found. "Health-based" marks violations of a legal limit or required treatment.
Howard County D.P.W. Distribution: frequently asked questions
Who runs Howard County D.P.W. Distribution?
Howard County D.P.W. Distribution (PWSID MD0130002) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the MD state drinking water program.
How many people does Howard County D.P.W. Distribution serve?
Howard County D.P.W. Distribution reports serving 286,158 people through 79,084 service connections in Howard County, Maryland.
Where does Howard County D.P.W. Distribution get its water?
EPA SDWIS lists this system's primary water source as purchased surface water. Purchased surface water means the system buys surface water from another public water system rather than drawing its own.
Does Howard County D.P.W. Distribution have any drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 6 violations for this system; none is health-based, and the most recent began in July 2022. A monitoring or reporting violation means a required test or report was missed or late; it does not by itself mean a contaminant was found.
Is Howard County D.P.W. Distribution's water safe to drink?
AquaCensus shows EPA compliance records, not current water test results, so it cannot say whether the water is safe at a given moment. EPA's records list 6 violations for this system; none is health-based, and the most recent began in July 2022. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the MD state drinking water program.
Where can I find Howard County D.P.W. Distribution's water quality report?
As a community water system, Howard County D.P.W. Distribution must deliver an annual water quality report, called a Consumer Confidence Report, to its customers by July 1 each year, covering the previous calendar year. The system can provide a copy on request.
Other water systems in Howard County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glenelg High School | Howard | 1,532 | Non-transient non-community | Groundwater |
| Bushy Park Es/Glenwood Ms Complex | Howard | 1,500 | Non-transient non-community | Groundwater |
| Highs of Cooksville | Howard | 1,321 | Transient non-community | Groundwater |
| Royal Farms Store | Howard | 1,015 | Transient non-community | Groundwater |
| Glenelg Country School | Howard | 950 | Non-transient non-community | Groundwater |
| Highs of Fulton | Howard | 758 | Transient non-community | Groundwater |
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About this data
Source: U.S. EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and SDWA violation records, via EPA ECHO, as published October 1, 2026 — AquaCensus refreshes it quarterly. See the methodology for how records are matched, cleaned and scored.
Cite as: AquaCensus, “Howard County D.P.W. Distribution, PWSID MD0130002, Maryland”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/maryland/howard-county-d-p-w-distribution-md0130002 (data as of October 1, 2026).