Public water system · MD0230005
ActiveOcean Pines
At a glance
Ocean Pines (PWSID MD0230005) is an active community water system in Worcester County, Maryland. It reports serving 11,890 people through 7,402 service connections. Its primary water source is groundwater, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, none is health-based, and the most recent began in June 2023.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
11,890
Service connections
7,402
Primary source
GW
Groundwater
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Ocean Pines compare with other water systems in Worcester County?
By EPA's size categories, Ocean Pines is a large system (10,001 to 100,000 people). Worcester County has 120 active public water systems, and Ocean Pines is the 2nd-largest of them by population served. Its population served is about 18 times the county average of 653 people per system, and accounts for 15% of the 78,379 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 Ocean Pines is about 77% above 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. Groundwater means the system draws its water from wells or springs fed by underground aquifers. 2,870 Maryland systems (96%) list groundwater as their primary source.
Who owns and regulates Ocean Pines?
EPA lists Ocean Pines 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. 15 of the 120 active systems in Worcester County (13%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Ocean Pines have drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, none is health-based, and the most recent began in June 2023. The violations listed here began between July 2009 and June 2023. By type: 12 monitoring and reporting. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Nitrate (5 of them). EPA lists 12 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-06-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Haloacetic acids (HAA5)code 2456 | No | Resolved |
| 2023-06-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | No | Resolved |
| 2019-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Nitratecode 1040 | No | Resolved |
| 2019-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Nitratecode 1040 | No | Resolved |
| 2019-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Nitratecode 1040 | No | Resolved |
| 2019-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Nitratecode 1040 | No | Resolved |
| 2019-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Nitratecode 1040 | No | Resolved |
| 2011-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingFollow-up Or Routine LCR Tap M/R · code 52 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
| 2010-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Haloacetic acids (HAA5)code 2456 | No | Resolved |
| 2010-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | No | Resolved |
| 2009-07-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | No | Resolved |
| 2009-07-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Haloacetic acids (HAA5)code 2456 | No | Resolved |
The 12 most recent 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.
Ocean Pines: frequently asked questions
Who runs Ocean Pines?
Ocean Pines (PWSID MD0230005) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the MD state drinking water program.
How many people does Ocean Pines serve?
Ocean Pines reports serving 11,890 people through 7,402 service connections in Worcester County, Maryland.
Where does Ocean Pines get its water?
EPA SDWIS lists this system's primary water source as groundwater. Groundwater means the system draws its water from wells or springs fed by underground aquifers.
Does Ocean Pines have any drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, none is health-based, and the most recent began in June 2023. 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 Ocean Pines' 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. Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, none is health-based, and the most recent began in June 2023. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the MD state drinking water program.
Where can I find Ocean Pines' water quality report?
As a community water system, Ocean Pines 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 Worcester County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Town of Ocean City | Worcester | 30,000 | Community | Groundwater |
| Mystic Harbour | Worcester | 5,945 | Community | Groundwater |
| Town of Berlin | Worcester | 4,500 | Community | Groundwater |
| City of Pocomoke City | Worcester | 4,100 | Community | Groundwater |
| Town of Snow Hill | Worcester | 2,409 | Community | Groundwater |
| Castaways Campground | Worcester | 1,550 | 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, “Ocean Pines, PWSID MD0230005, Maryland”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/maryland/ocean-pines-md0230005 (data as of October 1, 2026).