Pennsylvania vs Maryland: Whose Tap Water Is Cleaner?
Tap Water Quality in Pennsylvania (75.9/100) vs Maryland (85.4/100) — a 12% gap between neighbors, explained with July 2026 data.
Pennsylvania and Maryland share a border, but for tap water quality they don't share much else: Pennsylvania averages 75.9/100 (rank #50 of 51) and Maryland averages 85.4/100 (rank #17) as of July 2026 — a 12% gap between neighbors.
| Pennsylvania | Maryland | U.S. benchmark | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quality score | 75.9/100 | 85.4/100 | 84.5/100 |
| Violations per water system | 1.6 | 1.8 | 2.5 |
Pennsylvania in context
Pennsylvania ranks near the bottom for tap water quality — its score of 75.9/100 puts it #50 of 51, and its water systems averaged 1.6 health-based violations each in 2024 — better than the U.S. average of 2.5. That average reflects contaminants exceeding EPA limits or health guidelines in a meaningful share of its cities.
Maryland in context
Maryland lands mid-pack for tap water quality: a score of 85.4/100 ranks #17 of 51, and its water systems averaged 1.8 health-based violations each in 2024 — better than the U.S. average of 2.5.
Full local breakdowns: Pennsylvania · Maryland · all states ranked.
Averages describe states, not your faucet. A certified home water test screens for lead, nitrates, bacteria and dozens of other contaminants — the same categories EPA regulates.
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