Gaithersburg, MD Water Quality Report

Is Gaithersburg tap water safe? See PFAS and lead contamination levels for Gaithersburg, Maryland. Compare to EPA limits and get filter recommendations.

Quick Answers

Is Gaithersburg tap water safe to drink? Gaithersburg tap water meets most federal EPA limits, but PFAS compounds have been detected at an average of 0 ppt across 2 compounds. A certified pitcher filter or reverse osmosis system is recommended for sensitive populations.

What contaminants are in Gaithersburg water? Top PFAS compounds detected in Gaithersburg water: PFPeA (0.01 ppt), PFHxA (0 ppt). See the full table for all monitored contaminants and comparison to EPA limits.

What filter should I use in Gaithersburg? Reverse osmosis removes 90%+ of PFAS, lead, and arsenic. NSF-53 certified pitcher and faucet filters (ZeroWater, Clearly Filtered, LifeStraw) work for smaller households. Skip standard Brita filters for PFAS removal.

Gaithersburg Water Quality Summary

EPA testing has detected PFAS "forever chemicals" in Gaithersburg drinking water. Recent monitoring found a peak level of 0.01 ppt across 1 water system, representing an average of 0 ppt across 2 detected compounds.

Contamination Level: LOW – Low contamination – PFAS detected but at lower levels; monitoring continues.

Top Detected Compounds

  • PFPeA: 0.01 ppt
  • PFHxA: 0 ppt

Lead in Gaithersburg Water

EPA Lead and Copper Rule testing has recorded 13 lead samples for Gaithersburg water systems, with a 90th-percentile high of 0.0062 mg/L (within the EPA 0.015 mg/L action level). There is no safe level of lead for children; if your home was built before 1986, a certified NSF/ANSI 53 lead-removal filter is recommended.

EPA Violations in Gaithersburg

Gaithersburg public water systems have 5 health-based EPA Safe Drinking Water Act violations on record, including 2039, Surface Water Treatment Rule, Combined Radium (226+228). Health-based violations mean a contaminant exceeded its federal limit or required treatment was not applied.

About the Data

These figures come from the EPA's Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule 5 (UCMR5) testing program, 2023-2025. UCMR5 is the most comprehensive national drinking water survey in US history, covering 66,000+ public water systems. Population of Gaithersburg: approximately 69,099.

ZIP Codes Served

20877, 20878, 20879, 20882, 20883

What Gaithersburg Residents Should Do

  1. Enter your exact ZIP code at knowyourexposure.com for address-level data
  2. Install an NSF/ANSI 58 reverse osmosis filter (removes 94-99% of PFAS)
  3. If you're in a high-exposure group (pregnant, young children), consider a PFAS home test kit
  4. Review your utility's Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) annually