St. Mary's County, Maryland — public water systems

How does St. Mary's County compare with other Maryland counties?

St. Mary's County has the 7th-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 124,635 people served in total, the 8th-largest county figure in the state and 2.1% of the statewide total. The average system here reports serving 642 people, well below 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 St. Mary's County's drinking water come from?

By primary water source, St. Mary's County's active systems draw on groundwater (194, 100%). Overall, all rely mainly on groundwater (including purchased groundwater) and none 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, Lexington Park, draws primarily on groundwater.

What kinds of water systems operate in St. Mary's County?

St. Mary's County's active systems break down as 36 community systems (19%), 24 non-transient non-community systems (12%) and 134 transient non-community systems (69%). 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 (71%), local government (24%), state government (4.1%) and federal government (1%).