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City water profile

Baltimore water quality

Compare local ZIP estimates, evidence quality, associated public systems, and compliance history for Baltimore, Maryland.

Median indexed hardness

90PPM

23 indexed ZIPs

Range 88.1–94.6 PPM

State comparison
At state median
State hardness rank
#5 of 15
Matched utilities
1
Active health records
0

City summary

What the indexed records say

Baltimore has 23 published ZIP profiles across Baltimore City County. The indexed median is 90 PPM, compared with 90 PPM across Maryland.

Among the 15 Marylandcities with an indexed median, Baltimore ranks #5from highest to lowest. Across all 42 state ZIP profiles, available estimates run from 57.8to 167 PPM.

The 88.1–94.6 PPM range shows how much the available ZIP estimates vary within the city label. At least one estimate is marked low confidence, so observation distance and date deserve extra attention.

Hardness distribution

How local ZIP estimates compare

Soft0 ZIPs
Moderately hard23 ZIPs
Hard0 ZIPs
Very hard0 ZIPs

23 of 23 ZIP profiles have a hardness estimate. Bars count ZIP profiles, not households or laboratory samples.

Evidence quality

Distance, dates, and confidence

Median nearest distance
24.4 miles
Profiles with evidence
23/23

Confidence labels

High: 0Moderate: 14Low: 9

Observation window: Jan 4, 2016 to Jun 17, 2026.

ZIP directory

Water reports in Baltimore

Open a ZIP for site-level provenance and measurements.

ZIP code

21201

Moderately Hard

92.2 PPM

Nearest site
23.7 mi
Confidence
Moderate

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ZIP code

21202

Moderately Hard

92.2 PPM

Nearest site
24 mi
Confidence
Moderate

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ZIP code

21205

Moderately Hard

89.9 PPM

Nearest site
24.9 mi
Confidence
Moderate

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ZIP code

21206

Moderately Hard

88.2 PPM

Nearest site
27.7 mi
Confidence
Low

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ZIP code

21210

Moderately Hard

89.9 PPM

Nearest site
25.9 mi
Confidence
Low

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ZIP code

21211

Moderately Hard

89.6 PPM

Nearest site
25.9 mi
Confidence
Low

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ZIP code

21212

Moderately Hard

88.2 PPM

Nearest site
26.5 mi
Confidence
Low

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ZIP code

21213

Moderately Hard

90.1 PPM

Nearest site
25.6 mi
Confidence
Low

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ZIP code

21214

Moderately Hard

88.5 PPM

Nearest site
28.2 mi
Confidence
Low

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ZIP code

21215

Moderately Hard

94.4 PPM

Nearest site
24.4 mi
Confidence
Moderate

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ZIP code

21216

Moderately Hard

94.4 PPM

Nearest site
24.5 mi
Confidence
Moderate

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ZIP code

21217

Moderately Hard

94.2 PPM

Nearest site
24.4 mi
Confidence
Moderate

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ZIP code

21218

Moderately Hard

90.3 PPM

Nearest site
26.3 mi
Confidence
Low

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ZIP code

21223

Moderately Hard

94.6 PPM

Nearest site
22.7 mi
Confidence
Moderate

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ZIP code

21224

Moderately Hard

89.2 PPM

Nearest site
23.6 mi
Confidence
Moderate

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ZIP code

21226

Moderately Hard

88.1 PPM

Nearest site
18.8 mi
Confidence
Moderate

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ZIP code

21229

Moderately Hard

94.2 PPM

Nearest site
22.7 mi
Confidence
Moderate

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ZIP code

21230

Moderately Hard

89.6 PPM

Nearest site
21.9 mi
Confidence
Moderate

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ZIP code

21231

Moderately Hard

89.6 PPM

Nearest site
23.6 mi
Confidence
Moderate

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ZIP code

21233

Moderately Hard

89.9 PPM

Nearest site
23.7 mi
Confidence
Moderate

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ZIP code

21239

Moderately Hard

89.2 PPM

Nearest site
27.9 mi
Confidence
Low

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ZIP code

21251

Moderately Hard

89.6 PPM

Nearest site
27.9 mi
Confidence
Low

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ZIP code

21287

Moderately Hard

89.9 PPM

Nearest site
24.4 mi
Confidence
Moderate

View full ZIP evidence →

Public water systems

Utilities associated with this city

City Of Baltimore

PWSID MD0300002

Surface water
System population served
1,600,000
Last reported
May 18, 2026

A municipal system, in-state city, and served county all agree with this Census ZCTA.

Compliance history

What EPA records show

No active health-based violation appears among the associated systems in the represented EPA reporting quarter. This does not mean every contaminant was tested at every tap.

RecordSystemPeriodStatus
TTHMMD0300002Jan 1, 2026Archived · health-based
LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONSMD0300002Jul 2, 2025Resolved
ChlordaneMD0300002Apr 1, 2023Resolved
ToxapheneMD0300002Apr 1, 2023Resolved
ToxapheneMD0300002Apr 1, 2023Resolved
ChlordaneMD0300002Apr 1, 2023Resolved
NitrateMD0300002Jan 1, 2023Resolved
Public NoticeMD0300002Sep 5, 2022Resolved
Revised Total Coliform RuleMD0300002Sep 1, 2022Resolved · health-based

Practical next steps

Move from index to evidence

  1. 1. Open your ZIP. Check distance, dates, confidence, and the associated utility.
  2. 2. Read the current CCR. Confirm source water, detections, limits, ranges, and notices.
  3. 3. Test the tap when needed. Confirm health concerns or treatment sizing with the right method.

Questions people ask

About water in Baltimore

Is the water hard?

The indexed city median is 90 PPM. Open the ZIP report to verify the distance and confidence behind that estimate.

Is the tap water safe?

Compliance history is utility-wide and cannot guarantee conditions at every tap. Check current notices and test when address-specific evidence is needed.

Do I need treatment?

Choose treatment only after confirming the problem at the property. A softener targets hardness; contaminant treatment requires a matching, verified performance claim.