MDE’s Laboratory Certification Program (LCP) is the accreditation body for all certified drinking water (DW) laboratories in the State of Maryland, ensuring labs meet standards set by the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA).
These labs have met the minimum criteria specified under federal & State regulations listed under the Laws and Regulations section below. For specific questions regarding laboratory certification, consult the Laboratory Certification Guide (Permit Guide 3.17) .
Only state-certified labs are permitted to analyze compliance samples for Maryland’s Public Water Systems (PWS). In addition, compliance samples must be collected by a state certified sampler. For more information on sampler certification requirements, please refer to the Water Sampler Certification section below.
For private residential, real estate, and other non-compliance testing, we recommend using a certified sampler to ensure reliable test results.
Certified Laboratories, Approved Contaminants & Test Methods
*Important note* – The evaluation of certified labs is an ongoing process. Please be advised that the information presented in the lists below may be subject to change prior to the next website update.
LIST OF STATE CERTIFIED LABS
-
MD's Certified DW Labs – A comprehensive list of location, director
& contact info and approved tests for each certified lab
- PFAS Certified Labs – Approved labs equipped to analyze contaminants under the new PFAS rule
APPROVED CONTAMINANTS
- MD's Approved Analyte List – All contaminants approved by the state under SDWA. The terms “contaminants”, “analytes”, and “parameters” are used interchangeably, as they share similar meaning.
APPROVED TEST METHODS
New PFAS Rule Items
PFAS RULE GUIDANCE
For detailed information regarding the new PFAS Rule, including specific lab details and resources for the public, please read the links below:
BECOMING CERTIFIED FOR PFAS METHOD(S)
- PFAS Lab New Method Request Instructions
- ONLY applies to labs currently certified by the LCP
- Labs seeking PFAS accreditation and have not been certified by Maryland (LCP), please complete New Laboratory Application
PFAS MONITORING AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FOR PWS
** MDE will ONLY accept PFAS Reporting via electronic portal**
- PFAS Monitoring Requirements Instruction for PWS
- PFAS Reporting Requirements through CMDP
- All initial and routine PFAS monitoring results must be reported to MDE electronically via the Compliance Monitoring Data Portal, also known as CMDP.
- Water systems or their labs can report PFAS results to MDE via CMDP.
- Requirements, registration and additional information regarding CMDP can be found at the link above
- CMDP and electronic reporting of compliance sampling are supported by MDE’s SDWA Implementation Division
- Email any questions regarding CMDP to cmdphelp.mde@maryland.gov.
Water Sampler Certification (via MRWA)
Performing the required testing of public water systems is the primary means of evaluating the safety of the drinking water supply. This begins with the proper collection of samples.
In the State of Maryland, all compliance samples under the
SDWA are
REQUIRED to be collected by an active, certified sampler.
*Important note* – The Maryland Rural Water Association (MRWA) is the only approved training provider in the state. Contact & registration information can be found under Fact Sheet link below.
Laboratory Certification Applications and Forms
APPLICATIONS FOR DW LAB CERTIFICATION IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND:
- New Laboratory Application – Use for new In-State labs and dissolved labs looking to be reinstated for DW lab certification in Maryland.
- In-State Renewal Application – Use for In-State Labs requesting to maintain existing certification for Maryland (required annually).
- Out-of-State Renewal Application – Use for Out-of-State labs requesting to maintain certification (required annually) and new Out-of-State labs looking to be certified in Maryland.
FORMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE LAB CERTIFICATION PROCESS ABOVE:
Laws and Regulations
Contact Information
Taj Goodlow – Acting Manager
Laboratory Certification Program
Maryland Department of the Environment
Water Supply Program - WSA
1800 Washington Boulevard, Suite 450
Baltimore, Maryland 21230-1708
Phone: (410) 537-3702
mde.labcertification@maryland.gov LCP Homepage last revisions: 01/17/2025
