Iron in Maryland well water
In Maryland, iron was detected in 87% of 5,693 tested private well samples.
Iron is a nuisance rather than a health hazard: rust stains, metallic taste, and clogged fixtures above 300 ug/L. It often occurs with manganese and can feed iron bacteria that foul plumbing.
Check your iron number
Type the value from your lab report. It is compared to the EPA limit, the same way the full interpretation does it.
Test your Maryland well for iron
Certified lab analysis of your own tap water, bottles and prepaid return shipping included. The Essential well panel covers arsenic, uranium, nitrate, lead, copper, manganese, iron, sodium and bacteria; radon and PFAS are add-ons.
Order the Tap Score well water test kit, from $209Already tested? Upload the report
Affiliate links: the merchant pays us a commission and the price is the same for you. It does not change what the data above says.
Systems that remove iron
Some links below are affiliate links. If you buy through one, the merchant pays us a commission at no extra cost to you. It does not change which products we list or what the data says.
Some links below are affiliate links. If you buy through one, the merchant pays us a commission at no extra cost to you. It does not change which products we list or what the data says.
For iron
Iron and manganese oxidizing filter
whole-house, at the point of entry, about $1,800
Air-injection or greensand media; fixes staining at the source.
Rather have it installed and sized for your well? Book a free in-home water test with a licensed local company.
Where to get a well tested for iron in Maryland: certified labs, state programs and prices.
By county, from individual samples
Public monitoring samples against the EPA limit; counties with at least 30 samples.
| County | Above EPA limit | Samples | Detected | Median | Highest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charles | no limit | 329 | 100% | 200 | 14,000 ug/L |
| Somerset | no limit | 139 | 100% | 360 | 55,000 ug/L |
| Baltimore | no limit | 86 | 99% | 940 | 106,000 ug/L |
| Worcester | no limit | 550 | 98% | 4,800 | 83,000 ug/L |
| Anne Arundel | no limit | 473 | 97% | 1,000 | 220,000 ug/L |
| St. Mary's | no limit | 205 | 96% | 80 | 34,000 ug/L |
| Dorchester | no limit | 171 | 95% | 100 | 84,300 ug/L |
| Prince George's | no limit | 113 | 95% | 470 | 58,000 ug/L |
| Talbot | no limit | 89 | 94% | 140 | 10,000 ug/L |
| Garrett | no limit | 316 | 94% | 194 | 143,000 ug/L |
| Wicomico | no limit | 218 | 94% | 165 | 61,000 ug/L |
| Allegany | no limit | 58 | 93% | 760 | 20,000 ug/L |
| Howard | no limit | 179 | 93% | 12 | 18,000 ug/L |
| Cecil | no limit | 176 | 93% | 285 | 656,000 ug/L |
| Caroline | no limit | 170 | 89% | 35.8 | 27,000 ug/L |
- District 7, Pomonkey, Charles County100% detected of 181
- District 4, Kent Island, Queen Anne's County100% detected of 85
- District 1, Easton, Talbot County100% detected of 32
- District 6, Waldorf, Charles County100% detected of 36
- District 15, Baltimore County100% detected of 65
- District 7, Cambridge, Dorchester County100% detected of 39
- District 3, Sunderland, Calvert County100% detected of 37
- District 7, Ocean, Worcester County100% detected of 271
- District 5, Anne Arundel County99% detected of 91
- Baltimore, Baltimore County99% detected of 86
- District 14, Willards, Wicomico County99% detected of 70
- District 7, Anne Arundel County98% detected of 117
- District 1, Anne Arundel County98% detected of 51
- District 6, Northern, Worcester County98% detected of 47
- District 5, Clarksville, Howard County98% detected of 88
- District 2, Central, Worcester County97% detected of 38
- District 2, Prince Frederick, Calvert County97% detected of 68
- District 3, Anne Arundel County97% detected of 33
- District 3, Sinepuxent, Worcester County97% detected of 65
- District 1, St. Inigoes, St. Mary's County97% detected of 32
Sources
- Individual samples from the USGS Water Quality Portal and state monitoring, summarized per geography. iron counts and shares are listed on each county and town page with their sources.