Montgomery County, Maryland — public water systems

How does Montgomery County compare with other Maryland counties?

Montgomery County has the 20th-most active public water systems among the 60 counties listed for active Maryland systems in EPA records; among the 27 with 3 or more systems, the median has 78. Its systems report 1,916,066 people served in total, the largest county figure in the state and 33% of the statewide total. The average system here reports serving 39,103 people, about 20 times the Maryland average of 1,947. Population figures are what each system reports; people served by more than one system, such as a wholesaler and the town that buys from it, are counted by each.

Where does Montgomery County's drinking water come from?

By primary water source, Montgomery County's active systems draw on groundwater (44, 90%), purchased surface water (3, 6.1%), groundwater under influence of surface water (1, 2%) and surface water (1, 2%). Overall, 92% rely mainly on groundwater (including purchased groundwater) and 8.2% on surface water, compared with 97% and 2.6% across Maryland. Groundwater means the system draws its water from wells or springs fed by underground aquifers. The county's largest system, Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission, draws primarily on surface water.

What kinds of water systems operate in Montgomery County?

Montgomery County's active systems break down as 2 community systems (4.1%), 16 non-transient non-community systems (33%) and 31 transient non-community systems (63%). 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. A non-transient non-community water system regularly serves at least 25 of the same people for more than six months a year, but not where they live. Schools, factories, office buildings and hospitals with their own supply are typical examples. A transient non-community water system serves places where people do not stay long, such as gas stations and campgrounds, and regularly serves at least 25 people a day for at least 60 days a year. EPA lists their owner types as private (82%), local government (10%), federal government (4.1%) and public/private partnership (4.1%).