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Community Water System · PWS MD0070016

Town of North East

North East, Maryland 21901-0528 - drinking water served from surface water sources to 8,600 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

8,600
People served
168
EPA violations
121
Health-based
1 PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 168 drinking-water violations at Town of North East, 72% of them health-based - above the Maryland per-system average, and UCMR5 testing detected 1 PFAS compound.

168
Total EPA violations on record
72%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
8,600
People served by this system
1
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Town of North East

Town of North East is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 8,600 residents in North East, Maryland (Cecil County) through 2,709 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 168 total violations for this system , of which 121 (72%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 29 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2025.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is TTHM, recorded in 45 violations (MCL, health-based). Under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program, 1 PFAS compound was detected in samples collected from this system, with a maximum reported concentration of 12.5 ppt (parts per trillion). PFAS are persistent synthetic chemicals linked to health effects at very low exposure levels.

Across Maryland, EPA tracks 3,215 public water systems serving 6,070,211 people, with 60,496 cumulative violations and 18,132 health-based violations on record. About 80% of systems in the state carry at least one violation, and state-wide the average per system is 18.8 violations. Statewide, 50 of 83 UCMR5-tested systems have reported PFAS detections (60.2%).

Town of North East's 168 violations sit above the Maryland average.

All figures above are sourced directly from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 public data releases and are updated as EPA publishes new reporting cycles.

PFAS Detected

1 PFAS "forever chemicals" detected in testing under EPA's UCMR5 monitoring program.

Population Served
8,600
Total Violations
168
Health-Based Violations
121
Water Source
Surface Water

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
2,709
County
Cecil
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
85
Monitoring Violations
29
Treatment Tech Violations
36

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
TTHM MCL 45 2024
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MCL 40 2025
CARBON, TOTAL TT 23 2025
CARBON, TOTAL MR 13 2018
Surface Water Treatment Rule TT 13 1994
Consumer Confidence Rule Other 9 2015
Coliform (TCR) MR 7 2010
Fluoride MR 3 2009
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule MR 3 2009
Lead and Copper Rule MR 3 2014
LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS RPT 1 2025

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 1 of 232 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
PFDoA 8/14/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 8/14/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 8/14/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 8/14/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 8/14/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 8/14/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 8/14/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 8/14/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 8/14/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 8/14/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 8/14/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 8/14/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 8/14/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 8/14/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 8/14/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 8/14/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 8/14/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 8/14/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 8/14/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 8/14/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 8/14/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 8/14/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 8/14/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 8/14/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 8/14/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 8/14/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 8/14/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 8/14/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 8/14/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 8/14/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 8/14/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 8/14/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 8/14/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 8/14/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 8/14/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 8/14/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 8/14/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 8/14/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 8/14/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 8/14/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 8/14/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 8/14/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 8/14/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 8/14/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 8/14/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 8/14/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 8/14/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 8/14/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 8/14/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 8/14/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected

Verify This Water System

The figures above are aggregated from EPA's public databases. To verify the underlying records, or to file a complaint, request a Consumer Confidence Report, or check current monitoring status, go directly to the federal and state regulators that enforce the Safe Drinking Water Act for Town of North East.

Federal Source of Truth

EPA SDWIS, Federal Reports

EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) holds the federal compliance record for every regulated public water system. Open the system-level report by PWS ID:

View PWS ID MD0070016 on SDWIS

Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Reports Search

State Regulator

Maryland Drinking Water Authority

Maryland's primacy agency administers the Safe Drinking Water Act locally. Search EPA SDWIS for the current state contact, or use the state's public health or environment department portal.

Find MD regulator via EPA SDWIS

Violation Timeline

Each row links to the EPA SDWIS public record for verification. Cross-reference the contaminant code on EPA's federal report to see violation dates, return-to-compliance status, and enforcement actions.

Year (latest) Contaminant Category Count EPA Record
2025 Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MCL 40 SDWIS / MD0070016 / 2456
2025 CARBON, TOTAL TT 23 SDWIS / MD0070016 / 2920
2025 LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS RPT 1 SDWIS / MD0070016 / 5200
2024 TTHM MCL 45 SDWIS / MD0070016 / 2950
2018 CARBON, TOTAL MR 13 SDWIS / MD0070016 / 2920
2015 Consumer Confidence Rule Other 9 SDWIS / MD0070016 / 7000
2014 Lead and Copper Rule MR 3 SDWIS / MD0070016 / 5000
2010 Coliform (TCR) MR 7 SDWIS / MD0070016 / 3100
2009 Fluoride MR 3 SDWIS / MD0070016 / 1025
2009 Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule MR 3 SDWIS / MD0070016 / 0300
1994 Surface Water Treatment Rule TT 13 SDWIS / MD0070016 / 0200

How Town of North East Compares

Cross-reference this system's record against state averages and the federal MCL framework for context.

Metric Town of North East Maryland avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 168 18.8 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 121 5.6 Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL
PFAS detection 1 compound 60.2% EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served 8,600 1,888 Sizing context for compliance burden

Sources: EPA SDWIS and EPA National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (40 CFR Part 141). State averages computed across 3,215 regulated public water systems in Maryland.

Federal MCL reference, Safe Drinking Water Act thresholds ▼
Contaminant Federal MCL / Action Level Note
Lead 0 mg/L (Action Level: 0.015 mg/L) Lead and Copper Rule treatment technique
Arsenic 0.010 mg/L (10 ppb) Health-based MCL since 2006
Total Coliform Treatment technique (RTCR) Indicator organism, monitoring trigger
PFOA / PFOS (PFAS) 4.0 ppt each (final 2024 rule) Compliance deadline 2029 (EPA proposed extending to 2031, not yet final as of May 2026)
Nitrate (as N) 10 mg/L Acute health risk for infants

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Town of North East water safe to drink? ▼
Town of North East (PWS ID: MD0070016) has 168 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 1 PFAS compound found. This system serves 8,600 people using Surface Water sources.
How many people does Town of North East serve? ▼
Town of North East serves 8,600 people in North East, Maryland. It is a Local-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 2,709 service connections.
What type of violations does Town of North East have? ▼
Town of North East has 168 total violations: 121 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 29 monitoring/reporting violations, and 36 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Town of North East water? ▼
Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 1 PFAS compound in Town of North East's water supply: PFBA. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.
What water source does Town of North East use? ▼
Town of North East uses Surface Water as its primary water source. It is classified as a Community Water System (CWS), serving residential populations year-round.
Where does this data come from? ▼
All data comes from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and the UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program. SDWIS tracks compliance for all public water systems regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act.
Data Sources: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS), Q4 2025. PFAS data from EPA UCMR5 monitoring program (2023-2025). This data is provided for informational purposes only.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Data sourced from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 PFAS monitoring data. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainWater Editorial

Every figure on PlainWater is rendered directly from EPA SDWIS drinking-water data, no number is typed in by an editor. This system's figures are rendered directly from EPA SDWIS data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.