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A Community Water System is defined as a public water system which serves at least 15 service connections used by year-round residents or regularly serves at least 25 residents throughout the year.

The Health Department collects check drinking water samples from all Community Water Systems in Carroll County. These samples are collected on a quarterly basis. Site inspections for new wells for a Community Water System must be approved by both the Health Department and the Maryland Department of the Environment. The Maryland Department of the Environment is responsible for the regulation and enforcement for Community Systems.

Fluoridation of Major Community Water Systems

The following is a list of major Community Water Systems that add fluoride to water in Carroll County:

• Bark Hill
• Freedom/Sykesville
• Mount Airy
• New Windsor
• Wakefield Valley
• Westminster

The following is a list of major Community Water Systems that do not add fluoride to water in Carroll County:

• Hampstead
• Manchester
• Taneytown
• Union Bridge

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Non-Community Water Systems are made up of 2 categories:

1. Transient: A non-community water system that does not regularly serve at least 25 of the same individuals over 6 months per year.
2. Non-Transient: A public water system that is not a community water system and that regularly serves at least 25 of the same individuals over 6 months per year.

Both transient and Non-Transient Non-Community Systems are not community systems. All water systems (community, Non-Transient Non-Community, and Transient Non-Community) are considered public water systems.

The Health Department routinely does water quality monitoring for all non-community water systems. The Maryland Department of the Environment enforces regulations for the non-transient systems. The responsibility for the transient systems is delegated to the Health Department by the Department of the Environment.

Non-community water systems are sampled at least 2 times per year. A bacteria sample is taken each time and a chemical sample (for nitrates) is taken once per year. Whenever an establishment has a water treatment device, both a post treatment and pre treatment sample are taken.

If a sample tests positive for bacteria, regulations require 4 "check" samples. If 1 or more of them also tests positive, the facility is then required to post public notices informing the public of the bacteria present in their water and takes steps to ensure unsafe water is not served to the public. These notices must remain posted until such time that the Health Department determines that the water supply is again safe.

If a nitrate sample result is above the limit of 10 milligrams per liter (mg/l), a second sample is then taken. If the average of those 2 samples is 10 or higher, the facility must then post a public notice for nitrates.

Once again, these notices must remain posted until the Health Department determines the nitrate levels are once again safe. It should be noted that nitrate levels of 20 mg/l or higher require that nitrate treatment equipment be installed. All treatment devices must be permitted and inspected by the Carroll County Office of Permits and Inspections.

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