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Community Water System · PWS MD0150003

City of Rockville

Maryland - drinking water served from surface water sources to 52,000 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

52,000
People served
220
EPA violations
4
Health-based
4 PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 220 drinking-water violations at City of Rockville, 2% of them health-based - above the Maryland per-system average, and UCMR5 testing detected 4 PFAS compounds.

220
Total EPA violations on record
2%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
52,000
People served by this system
4
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: City of Rockville

City of Rockville is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 52,000 residents in Maryland (Montgomery County) through 17,500 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 220 total violations for this system , of which 4 (2%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 214 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 Lead and Copper Rule, recorded in 19 violations (MR). Under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program, 4 PFAS compounds were detected in samples collected from this system, with a maximum reported concentration of 6.5 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%).

City of Rockville's 220 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

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

Population Served
52,000
Total Violations
220
Health-Based Violations
4
Water Source
Surface Water

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
17,500
County
Montgomery
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
4
Monitoring Violations
214
Treatment Tech Violations
0

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Lead and Copper Rule MR 19 2013
Coliform (TCR) MR 7 2008
Cadmium MR 7 2006
Trichloroethylene MR 5 2008
1,2-Dichloroethane MR 4 2002
1,1,1-Trichloroethane MR 4 2002
CHLOROBENZENE MR 4 2002
Benzene MR 4 2002
Toluene MR 4 2002
Ethylbenzene MR 4 2002
Barium MR 4 1999
Chromium MR 4 1999
Nickel MR 4 1999
Xylenes, Total MR 4 2002
Beryllium, Total MR 4 1999
Thallium, Total MR 4 1999
Selenium MR 4 1999
1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene MR 4 2002
DICHLOROMETHANE MR 4 2002
1,1-Dichloroethylene MR 4 2002
Carbon tetrachloride MR 4 2002
1,2-Dichloropropane MR 4 2002
o-Dichlorobenzene MR 4 2002
Tetrachloroethylene MR 4 2002
p-Dichlorobenzene MR 4 2002
TTHM MCL 4 2008
Endrin MR 4 2023
Methoxychlor MR 4 2023
Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate MR 4 2023
Vinyl chloride MR 4 2002

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 7 of 116 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
NMeFOSAA 6/7/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 6/7/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 6/7/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 6/7/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 6/7/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 6/7/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 6/7/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 6/7/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 6/7/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 6/7/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 6/7/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 6/7/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 6/7/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 6/7/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 6/7/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 6/7/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 6/7/2023 3.80 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFHxA 6/7/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 6/7/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 6/7/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 6/7/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 6/7/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 6/7/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 6/7/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 6/7/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 6/7/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 6/7/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 6/7/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 6/7/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 3/8/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 3/8/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 3/8/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 3/8/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 3/8/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 3/8/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 3/8/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 3/8/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 3/8/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 3/8/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 3/8/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 3/8/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 3/8/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 3/8/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 3/8/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 3/8/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 3/8/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 3/8/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 3/8/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 3/8/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 3/8/2023 <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 City of Rockville.

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 MD0150003 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 LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS RPT 1 SDWIS / MD0150003 / 5200
2023 Endrin MR 4 SDWIS / MD0150003 / 2005
2023 Methoxychlor MR 4 SDWIS / MD0150003 / 2015
2023 Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate MR 4 SDWIS / MD0150003 / 2035
2023 Simazine MR 4 SDWIS / MD0150003 / 2037
2023 Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate MR 4 SDWIS / MD0150003 / 2039
2023 Hexachlorocyclopentadiene MR 4 SDWIS / MD0150003 / 2042
2023 Atrazine MR 4 SDWIS / MD0150003 / 2050
2023 LASSO MR 4 SDWIS / MD0150003 / 2051
2023 HEXACHLOROBENZENE MR 4 SDWIS / MD0150003 / 2274
2023 Benzo(a)pyrene MR 4 SDWIS / MD0150003 / 2306
2023 Chlordane MR 4 SDWIS / MD0150003 / 2959
2023 BHC-GAMMA MR 4 SDWIS / MD0150003 / 2010
2023 Heptachlor epoxide MR 4 SDWIS / MD0150003 / 2067
2023 Toxaphene MR 4 SDWIS / MD0150003 / 2020

How City of Rockville Compares

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

Metric City of Rockville Maryland avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 220 18.8 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 4 5.6 Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL
PFAS detection 4 compounds 60.2% EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served 52,000 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 City of Rockville water safe to drink?
City of Rockville (PWS ID: MD0150003) has 220 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 4 PFAS compounds found. This system serves 52,000 people using Surface Water sources.
How many people does City of Rockville serve?
City of Rockville serves 52,000 people in Maryland. It is a Local-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 17,500 service connections.
What type of violations does City of Rockville have?
City of Rockville has 220 total violations: 4 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 214 monitoring/reporting violations, and 0 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in City of Rockville water?
Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 4 PFAS compounds in City of Rockville's water supply: PFPeA, PFHxA, PFBA, PFBS. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.
What water source does City of Rockville use?
City of Rockville 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.
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.