Welcome to the Maryland Safe Drinking WATER Study!
The overarching goal of the Maryland Safe Drinking WATER (Water Analysis and Testing for Education and Research) Study is to characterize the drinking water quality of both public drinking water systems and private wells in Maryland's underserved communities using a combination of citizen science, field-based research, and laboratory analyses. To accomplish this goal, we will collaborate with our UMD Extension partners, government partners, community partners, private well owners, and residents of Maryland who utilize public drinking water.
The water accessed by most people across the U.S. is clean and safe, however, recent drinking water tragedies in Jackson MS, Flint MI, and in our very own backyard of Baltimore City have placed national attention on the dangers and health consequences of contaminated water. Approximately 5.1 million Maryland residents are served by public drinking water systems while over 1 million completely rely on private wells as their source of water. Recent studies detected microbiological contaminants such as total coliforms and E. coli in both private and public drinking water supplies in Maryland, as well as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), aka “forever chemicals”, in approximately 1.3% of Marylanders' public drinking water.
The results of field-based and laboratory studies will be used to conduct Safe Drinking Water Workshops with residents focused on outreach and education to understand and improve drinking water quality in Maryland. To learn more about current drinking water testing recommendations in Maryland, click here.
Concerned about your drinking water? Get the answers you need—and learn what steps you can take. Join University of Maryland experts for a engaging webinars on water quality, where you’ll learn how to test your water and clearly understand your results. Connect with researchers, share your experiences, and get additional resources on how you can protect your drinking water All are welcome!
Phase 1 and 2 of the Maryland Safe Drinking WATER Study have concluded. Current participants will be contacted by email regarding next steps through Summer 2026.
We want to know how YOU feel about the quality of your drinking water! All Marylanders can click here to complete a quick consumer perception survey.
The Maryland Safe Drinking WATER study is proudly funded by the Grand Challenges Grants Program — the largest and most comprehensive program of its type ever introduced at the University of Maryland.