What is the Value of Water?
In 1996 Congress amended the Safe Drinking Water Act giving the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the authority to require an annual water quality report from each community water system. These water quality reports, also known as “Consumer Confidence Reports”, summarize information that is already collected by the water system to comply with regulations. Anne Arundel County Department of Public Works (DPW) personnel fulfill the vital role of providing water to the community.
Award Winning Water
The Department of Public Work’s Bureau of Utilities team is committed to serving the county and our water consistently surpasses all federal safety standards.
Investing in Water
A 2025 report released by the American Society of Civil Engineers projects the budget gap for the water and wastewater industry to grow to $690 billion dollars by 2044 based on current rates of investment. The Department of Public Works is updating water meters across Anne Arundel County to give customers the ability to see water consumption in near real time, providing more timely insight into your habits so you can make informed decisions about how water is used at your home or business.
The Anne Arundel 2026 Consumer Confidence Report shows that the water delivered to your home remains among the cleanest and safest in the region. More than a collection of data, it serves as the local fulfillment of the Clean Water Act—a promise that every community deserves access to safe, reliable water.
By prioritizing our water infrastructure, we leave behind a foundation of health and safety for all who work, live, and play in Anne Arundel County.
By the Numbers
Outlined in the Anne Arundel 2026 Consumer Confidence Report, drinking water in Anne Arundel County comes from an abundant underground supply of water-bearing material known as an aquifer. Our 13 water treatment facilities draw from the Upper Patapsco, Lower Patapsco, Patuxent, and Aquia Aquifers.
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14 Billion: The annual volume in gallons of public water delivered in 2025
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128,993: The amount of customers served by an Anne Arundel County Public Water System
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29,627: The amount of valves in the water distribution system
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15,870: The amount of hydrants available for emergency response
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1,540: The total miles of distribution and transmission pipes maintained by Anne Arrundel County
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Award Winning Water Treatment
Anne Arundel County's Water Reclamation Facilities (WRF) regularly receive national National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) Peak Performance Awards for complete and continuous compliance with discharge permits
| ANNAPOLIS | BROADNECK | BROADWATER | COX CREEK | MARYLAND CITY | PATUXENT | PINEY ORCHARD | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | SILVER | PLATINUM (8) | PLATINUM (19) | GOLD | GOLD | SILVER | - |
| 2016 | GOLD | SILVER | PLATINUM (20) | GOLD | - | ||
| 2017 | GOLD | GOLD | PLATINUM (21) | PLATINUM (5) | SILVER | - | |
| 2018 | GOLD | GOLD | PLATINUM (22) | GOLD | PLATINUM (6) | GOLD | - |
| 2019 | GOLD | GOLD | PLATINUM (23) | GOLD | PLATINUM (7) | GOLD | SILVER |
| 2020 | PLATINUM (5) | GOLD | PLATINUM (24) | GOLD | PLATINUM (8) | GOLD | SILVER |
| 2021 | PLATINUM (6) | PLATINUM (5) | PLATINUM (25) | GOLD | PLATINUM (9) | SILVER | SILVER |
| 2022 | PLATINUM (7) | PLATINUM (6) | PLATINUM (26) | PLATINUM (5) | SILVER | GOLD | GOLD |
| 2023 | PLATINUM (8) | PLATINUM (7) | PLATINUM (27) | PLATINUM (6) | GOLD | GOLD | SILVER |
| 2024 | PLATINUM (9) | PLATINUM (8) | PLATINUM (28) | PLATINUM (7) | GOLD | GOLD | GOLD |
| 2025 | PLATINUM (10) | PLATINUM (9) | PLATINUM (29) | PLATINUM (8) | GOLD | SILVER | O/S |