Towson, Maryland’s
Home for Water Softeners,
Water Filters, and Water Delivery

Yes. Towson tap water meets federal and state drinking water requirements. Still, the local report shows trace contaminants and disinfection byproducts in the water, which is why many households add filtration for daily drinking water, cooking water, and better taste at the kitchen sink.

The Towson system draws from two groundwater wells in the Baltimore Gneiss. Groundwater can pick up naturally occurring minerals, metals, radioactive materials, and other substances as it moves through soil and rock. That makes local testing and at-home filtration especially helpful for understanding what is actually coming through your tap.

Yes. PFAS monitoring found PFOA at 2.52 ppt, PFHxA at 3.76 ppt, and PFHpA at 1.18 ppt. Other tested PFAS compounds were not detected. These are low-level detections, but PFAS are a concern because they are long-lasting chemicals that can build up over time. Many Towson homeowners choose reverse osmosis for drinking and cooking water because it can help reduce PFAS at the tap.

Yes. Nitrate was reported at a highest level detected of 0.2 ppm. Nitrate is present at a low level, but it is still a contaminant many households prefer to reduce, especially for drinking water used by infants, young children, or anyone with specific health concerns. Reverse osmosis is a strong option for nitrate reduction at the kitchen sink.

Yes. Towson water reported total trihalomethanes, or TTHMs, at a highest level detected of 23 ppb. Haloacetic acids, or HAA5s, were reported at a highest level detected of 6 ppb. These byproducts can form when disinfectants react with natural organic matter in water. Even when levels meet current requirements, many homeowners choose carbon filtration or reverse osmosis to reduce long-term exposure from everyday drinking and cooking water.

Chlorine was reported at a highest level detected of 1.2 ppm. Chlorine helps disinfect the water, but it can also create a noticeable taste or smell at the tap. A whole-home carbon filter can help reduce chlorine taste and odor throughout the house, while reverse osmosis can improve drinking water at the kitchen sink.

Lead was reported at a 90th percentile level of less than 0.002 ppb. Even with a low reported level, lead can still vary from home to home because it is often tied to plumbing materials, fixtures, and service lines. There is no safe level of lead exposure, especially for children and pregnant women. A certified drinking water filter or reverse osmosis system can help reduce lead from the water your household uses every day.

Copper was reported at a 90th percentile level of 0.044 ppm, with 0 sites over the action level. Copper can enter water through household plumbing, especially after water sits in pipes. If your home has older plumbing or you notice metallic taste, a water test can help determine whether drinking water filtration makes sense.

Yes. Towson water reported barium at a highest level detected of less than 0.01 ppm and fluoride at less than 0.10 ppm. Radioactive contaminants were also monitored, including beta gross at 9 pCi/L, alpha gross at less than 2 pCi/L, and radium-228 at less than 2.5 pCi/L. These values show why groundwater systems deserve a closer look, even when the water meets current requirements. Reverse osmosis can help reduce many dissolved substances in drinking water.

Benzene was not detected in Towson water. That is good news, but VOCs are only one category of potential water concerns. PFAS, nitrate, chlorine, disinfection byproducts, and plumbing-related metals may still influence what homeowners choose to filter at the tap.

A common setup for Towson homes is whole-home carbon filtration paired with under-sink reverse osmosis. Carbon filtration can help reduce chlorine taste, odor, and certain disinfection byproducts throughout the home. Reverse osmosis is often used for drinking and cooking water because it can help reduce PFAS, nitrate, lead, fluoride, and other dissolved substances at the kitchen sink.

You can access the most recent Towson Tap Water Quality Report through the local water utility. Culligan can also help you review what is showing up in your local water and recommend filtration options based on your home, plumbing, and drinking water goals.