This spring’s outlet is right along the road so it is very easy to access and easy to spot from the road. The spring’s outlet is along the side of a hill and the whole area is a forested state park (Patapsco Valley State Park) with no buildings or hardscape in sight so I imagine the quality of this spring’s water to be quite high. There seems to be a long steel metal pipe running from somewhere up the hill, and the last ten feet or so change to a pvc pipe unfortunately. But the spring is running constantly and at a high speed so I think this plastic contact has little effect. Also this spring is nice and cool when I tasted it in May. The water has a nice cool, thirst quenching quality. The spring lies on road that is sometimes frequented by fast moving, sometimes noisy cars, trucks, and motorcycles so beware!
The spring flows at about 1.5 GPM which seems rather fast! It would be best if someone would have the water tested to find out its quality.
Nearest Address
8067 Henryton Road Marriottsville, MD
Directions from Nearest Address
If heading east of west on I 70, exit on route 32 heading north toward Sykesville. Drive north on route 32 for several miles until you reach the Sykesville area. Turn right on Raincliffe Road, then a right on Arrington Road, and then a right on Henryton Road. Follow Henryton Road down the hill for a short distance. When you see the first road which looks like a driveway on the right, pull into this driveway. Then turn around and cross to the other side when the traffic is clear. The spring is here across from the driveway. There is an enlarged shoulder where one can park. Simply unload your bottles and set on the table next to the spring. Fill up as needed! The address I gave above is just down the road a bit where there is a horse camp.
Water tested was collected 1 week prior. Stored in our basement in cleaned glass recycled bottles.
Alkalinity 80ppm
pH 6
Hardness between 50-100ppm (Color variation was in between on the test strip)
Chlorine, Chlorine, Nitrate, Nitrate & Iron all 0ppm
Lead & Pesticide Negative
Currently waiting on the last test for bacteria which will not be ready for another 24 hours. Will update.
Unfortunately my test showed that coliform bacteria IS present in the Marriottsville spring water.
Which means if you collect some, you should disinfect it by:
– Boiling the water for at least 1 minute
– Leaving the water in a clear jar in the sun for at least 6 hours (or 2 days if overcast)
– Chemical purification with bleach or chlorine.
I personally have not had a health issue from this water BUT that might not be the case for you. Be safe everyone 🙂
I know this page service has water test kits I am not sure for how much, I will be checking today. I store mine in glass jars, and i have a few plastic ones as well. As far as storage store in a dark cool place and check regularly
Hi Alex, Home Depot sells water testing kits – 2 kinds depending on how comprehensive a test you want. You can test just for bacteria (+ I think it was coliform as well), or for a number of additional items. But your best best is getting a test from a water testing outfit. I’ve been to Fountain Valley Analytical Labs in Westminster many a time (for my well water) and they are the BEST! Atlantic Water Systems is closer to Henryton, though (on 140 close to the end of 795) vs FVAL at the northern end of Westminster. AWS may be more expensive. Amazon surely sells kits too. 🙂 Isn’t it great to drink natural spring water but it does pay to have it tested now and again, especially if there are reports in the past of some contamination.
Hi! I stopped at the Spring today for the first time. I will be getting the water tested. Does anyone have any more recent tests than 2021? Also, does anyone know if the Carroll County Government tests the water every two to four weeks? If they do, how can we, as the general public, access the results? I will be researching this, but I wanted to inquire of those who may know. Thank you!
I’ve been frequenting this spring and consistently drinking only this water for approx. 2 + years now and haven’t had any problems. Once filled, if the water containers sit stagnant in extreme heat or direct sunlight for prolonged periods of time the water becomes ALGAEIC! In my personal opinion this is a good thing! The water sourced from this location is always cold and the absolute most refreshing water I have had in my time experimenting with natural spring water intake. Never seen any signs or heard of any expressed concerns aside from the preference of a friend (very holistic vegan yogi, nursing major) who uses only Kangen (medical grade water filter) and her claim was that this water was acidic… which i do not agree with but have never done any testing of my own. Much love to all you spring lovers out there. Peace <3
As mentioned above, the actual spring is located a little further down where the gps would lead you if you use the address above, not even a minute drive and you’ll hit the spring from said address.
Filled two 5 gallon jugs, took about 2 minutes to fill each one. I was there by myself and it was super dark and kind of creepy. Thought about slender man coming to get me lol…
Anyway, I never had “fresh spring water” and was confused on the comments on how amazing and fresh the water tastes. At the time I just thought “it’s just water…”.
I had a taste and was quite surprised on how refreshing this water was. I guess I understand the enthusiasm now!
You aren’t kidding. One of my all time favorite things to do is to go to this spring thirsty, and drink until i cant hold my breath any longer. I get such a rush, almost like an inner crust has been cleared from my insides. Spring water is the real deal.
went to spring today. water was running fast and was nice and cold. Beautiful area and we met some very nice people getting their jugs filled too. worth the trip
We went here and drank some water today, and brought my TDS tester with us. It clocked in as 51ppm with the tester in the running fountain, the temp was 55; then we tested it still in a glass as 36 ppm. It was good, a bit more minerally tasting than I like though, later we went to Spoutin spring about 40 miles further away… just sayin’! 🙂
I had this water tested with HRI labs for glyphosate, and there are NO traces of glyphosate or it’s breakdown products. Would like to eventually get the water tested for heavy metals and such!
I went there on Sat 8/12/16 to fill up a 3 gallon jug. The pipe is easy to find and there is some parking across the road. I used a kit from Sliver Lake and the results were negative for Iron, Copper, Nitrates, Nitrite, and Lead. The test was inconclusive for pesticides, but my tap water filtered through an Everpure H-300 NXT (which is ANSI/NSF 42, 53 and 401 certified) also tested inconclusive for pesticides. The pH is around 6.5/7 which may be too acidic for me 🙁
I talked to someone from the League of Maryland Horseman (which is where your GPS will take you if you use 8067 Henryton Road), and she enjoys the water. There was also a car behind me that was going to fill up.
I will be visiting this spring this coming Saturday. I’ll have a test kit and TDS monitor on hand. I’ll post here after our visit. I grew up pretty close to here and have a few concerns about the above mentioned landfill. It’s a true story. Located close to quarry nearby. I believe this spring is uphill from there though.
Hi all, I’ve easily had this water to drink in 2012. There seems to be a trend with bad mouthing the local springs in Maryland for one reason or another – this I do not believe. The water is pretty decent and I had 25 gallons sitting around for a month or so and had no issues. Could someone provide a recent water status?
Today was my first time to this spring. I was coming from Sykesville, so very easy to find the spring location and less than 6 miles from my house.
I had two 2.5 gallon containers; but can tell I am going to want to find some decent 5 gallon jugs or larger. The flow was decent and I just enjoyed the location while I waited for the jugs to fill.
Now sitting at my house, sipping a nice cool glass of water. I am pleasantly surprised at how good it tastes… no aftertastes. I will definitely be going back soon.
I tried finding this spring yesterday (11/4/13) along Henryton Road and could not find it! Is it hidden off the road? I saw some type of horseback riding stable but no spring. I actually live about 15 minutes from Sykesville. Would you (or anyone here) be willing to accompany me on a visit to this spring? Would sooo appreciate it.
–Yvette
Went there for the first time last week. It was a wonderful experience visiting our first spring; very enlightening. Many locals value their springs and you get to hear a lot about its history. It becomes quite evident the sense of community a local spring can bring.
The water was cool, the taste was lovely, clean and the water flowed fairly fast. Next time we go in we will be testing the water. I’ll share the results.
I will mention that for the past couple of weeks (according to locals that use it and my own experience) there has been a large trash bag tied to a tree at the spring location, cigarette butts and other trash strewn about the hill. This is harmful to the environment and the wildlife.
2/9/2013 – Went today to get water. When we left there was a line of people waiting. Filling up took some time (we had 10 five gallon jugs to fill) – it’s a lot slower than at Spouting Spring in Frederick, but a closer drive. Location is further up than the address given, but you can’t miss it. It’s on the right side and there’s a nice table set up there to put you jugs on as you’re filling up.
* Bacteria, Lead and Pesticide test results offer no numerical result but
rather Negative or Positive for contaminants. Negative result = none detected / Positive = potentially harmful/toxic contaminant levels
I’ve been drinking this water for over 2 years now. I had it tested, and it’s chlorine, lead, and flouride free. The PH was also consistent with being considered spring water. It’s coming from somewhere cold…deep inside the mountain. It’s cold in 100 degree weather.
Went for a ride today to check out some new springs in my area. I checked the TDS and temperature of Henryton Spring. TDS was 55. Temperature was 55.9 degrees fahrenheit, 13.2 degrees celsius. It took about 22 seconds to fill up a gallon jug.
Keep in mind that right on the other side of McKeldin park (about 2 miles downstream) there is an old landfill with a permanent water filtration facility that feeds into a stream with ‘Contaminated Water Avoid Contact’ signs. I worry about it contaminating the local ground water. Go to the end of Furman Lane on Google maps and you’ll see where I’m talking about. It is downstream but no guarantee when it comes to the flow of the underground aquifer.
Did anybody tested the water for lead or asbestos? I read that not far from the bridge over 210 acres were shut down for asbestos. I hope we are doing the right thing to drink this water. It’s been 6 weeks that I’m using it. I like the taste of it but I hope it’s safe.
Thanks for sharing 🙂
Wondering if anyone has been to this spring lately? Last post was Feb 24, 2011. Wanted to head up there but before I do I just wanted to make sure you can still use it.
7/17/2011 – I tested the pH of the water on the 17th and it was 6+ with strips. I filled a case of glass liter bottles and have been using it all week. Terrific water and it stays “fresh”.
I noticed in the description above that there was a concern about the PVC pipe distribution. Because pipe is a “rigid” plastic, it doesn’t have any plasticizers in it. Basically it is inert, so you don’t have any migration from the pipe to the spring water. It is actually safer than cast iron, because it doesn’t corrode.
First ttime Inwent there, today, and the water is great, very refreshing and will continue going every week. I will test it soon as well and will post the results. Biggggg different in taste!
2/24/2011 – I tested this water today and the PH was 6.8. I know someone else read it at 5 and that’s not good and very unusual for spring water. I feel better now. We get the water and put it through a Brita filter before drinking. It’s probably not necessary, but makes me feel better. On Sunday, we had to wait in line to get water! A lot of people have been drinking this water for years, and no contamination reported. My daughter tested our city water here for this area, and it was off the chart for chlorine. Now that’s poisonous. I’ll drink spring water over city water any day.
I would love to know if anyone has tested this water. I used to use it a lot. My sister and brother in law have a farm very close by, and don’t use the water. They have walked up to find the actual spring, and say that the water flows open through the woods for several hundred feet until going into the pipes that bring it to the street side. There are many deer and other wildlife that roam the forest, and too many possibilities for contamination to be a secure. I was disappointed to hear this.
I haven’t tested it, but it sure did taste great after a long ride on the motorcycle. It has to be better than the 80 year old rusty pipes that bring water to most houses where I live!
I see the most recent test posted shows presence of coliform bacteria. Is anyone who currently drinking this water/ having problems from it? I saw that putting it in the sun for some hours can clear up the problem- would this work in a clear plastic jug does anyone know? Thank you
Sampled this spring water Monday 10/30/23 and received results today 11/1/23. It would be so much easier if I could post a photo here.
Turbidity – 0.8 – Pass
Iron, Total – not detected – Acceptable
Lead, Total – not detected – Pass
NitrateN – not detected – Pass
Nitrate + Nitrate as N – 1.3 – Pass
Bacteria E.Coli – absent – Pass
Bacteria Total Coliform – present – Fail
Given that the nitrate levels are low (1.3 and the EPA acceptable max is 10.0), boiling the water might be a reasonable enough solution to the total coliform? Would love to know other people’s thoughts. I did also post pictures of the results on the “Test Results” tab.
Been drinking this water consistently for 2+ years with no problems. 90% of what I drink on a daily basis is water and 90% of that water comes from this spring. I go through approximately a 7 gallon container every 1-2 weeks. Water is always crisp cool and refreshing. Can feel the hydration immediately
I just left the spring. I store my water in bpa free containers. I do not boil it but I do filter. It taste great! No problems with it being unhealthy to drink so far.
I’m going to test the water and will share the results. If anyone is interested in sharing the cost, or helping research the best place to have the test done, please contact me.
Just filled up from this Spring, (April 2018)! There were a few other people filling up too who have been drinking here for years without a problem. It was my first time and I did no testing or anything, drank straight from it and twas delicious!!!!
I went to the Spring this morning at 6 degrees yes that is right like 26 degrees below freezing and the water was still flowing and was as good as ever! I love this spring. Truly is a blessing from God.
There is a true and distinct taste and feel difference between this and tap water.
Even at this cold I had to wait my time in line for my water. That is awesome.
I bought the “First Alert WT1 Drinking Water Test Kit” from Amazon. About 3 weeks ago my girlfriend used the bacteria test and it failed. I can only assume she didn’t contaminate the test somehow. Also, the water was also collected in a glass jug with a metal container (not sure on the material) and stored in the fridge for about 2 weeks before the test. So the water may have been contaminated after collection. Just to note, the container fell over and spilled a fair bit in the car and the lid came into contact with my car floor.
We tried it out this past Friday filled up four gallon jugs of it before I could run it through the process of boiling and filtering my son drank it and he ended up in the emergency care with 102.7 fever so drink at caution and always boil your natural water!!!!
I drank out of this spring for 5 years straight without incident, never boiling or filtering the water. The one thing you DO need to check is the source, to make sure no animals have piddled in there. If it’s murky/weird, may have to stir and let it clear before collecting.
Melina, I was there Dec. 1st and it seemed good to go. I didn’t run any tests on it though. It’s possible some leaves are decomposing near were the spring exits the hill causing the taste you mentioned. Hopefully that is all it was.
Just a thought but does it make sense that water tested in cold months could give better results than the same water tested in summer? If it’s true that “the water flows open through the woods for several hundred feet until going into the pipes” that is a serious red flag. Of course some folks are more sensitive to bacteria than others.
I have been drinking this water on and off since this summer. During the past few months I’ve noticed that for me drinking this water is associated with bouts of diarrhea. Has anyone else experienced diarrhea in association with this water? I have not had it tested. Does anyone know if it has been conclusively tested for safety?
Drinking pure spring water is one of the most important things we can do for our health. Our bodies are over 99% water at the molecular level, so water affects every aspect of our biology. Yet, not all water is created equal. Almost all the bottled spring water available is pasteurized for shelf stability, which neutralizes many of the powerful health benefits such as increased hydrogen, healthy probiotics, and crystalline structure. For more about why unprocessed spring water is the best water to drink, read this.
The best way to guarantee you are getting real unprocessed spring water is to collect it yourself. This is a short and simple guide filled with information about how to gather spring water. We will cover how to find a spring, how to collect the water, how to honor the spring, how to store the water properly and other tips.
FindASpring.org is the best resource for locating a spring near you. However, not all springs are on the map. First, check the map to see if there is a spring in your local area. If there is, look at the reviews and comments. Has anyone shared helpful information about flow rate or posted a water test result? Is the spring in a pristine area? Do a bit of research and make sure the spring is safe to drink from. If you have any doubt about the purity, don’t risk it and get a water test, HERE. If you don’t see a spring on the map in your area, there still might be some that aren’t listed yet. First, ask the older generation who have lived in your area a long time if they know. You can also ask people in your community who might already get spring water such as people at a health food store or at a farmers market. Another great option is to view A US forest service map, where many springs have been marked. You can view these maps through the Gaia GPS or All Trails hiking apps on your phone. The map overlay you want is USGS Topo. Not all are easily accessible or ideal for drinking, but some are and it can be a fun adventure to find them. We have found over half a dozen great springs this way.
Once you’ve found your spring, figure out how you are going to gather the water. Is it right on the side of the road and easy to access or do you have to hike to it? We recommend storing spring water in glass instead of plastic to preserve the purity of the water. It is better for the environment, your body, and the water. Even BPA free plastic has toxic chemicals that can leach into water and cause health issues. If you do want to use plastic for safety reasons when filling at the spring, we recommend transferring the water to glass as soon as possible. FindASpring is sponsored by Alive Waters, which offers beautiful reusable glass. They have a 2.5 gallon option, which is a convenient size for carrying that isn’t too heavy. They also sell handles that you can use to transport the jugs even more easily. If you have to hike to access the spring, we recommend putting the water jugs into an extra large backpack to hike the water out with ease. We use Osprey packs that hold 2 jugs each. You can also use a wheelbarrow or even a stroller depending on how easy a walk it is.
Filling 2.5 Gallon Alive Waters Jug
When you get to the spring, remember to first give back before you take. Springs are considered sacred in indigenous cultures around the world for their life giving water and also as a connection to the inner earth. A powerful and simple way to give back is to clean up. Is there any trash that needs to be collected? Could you move any dead leaves or sticks to improve the flow rate? Show up in service. Some other wonderful ways to give is with a moment of expressing verbal gratitude, singing songs to the water, offering the water an ethically sourced crystal, a feather, or some other physical gift. Flowers are a popular and beautiful thing to offer, but please be careful to source organic ones as most flowers from the store are sprayed with pesticides and can be toxic to put near a spring. Also, flowers can attract bugs as they decay, so it can be best to offer them to the flowing water directly or a little downstream from the spring head.
When gathering the water, fill the jug as close to the spring head as possible, never gather downstream. Be very careful as wet glass is extremely slippery. Make sure the lid is securely fastened. When transporting the spring water home, the jugs can sometimes slide around the car. Secure them in place or wrap them with towels or something so they don’t crash into each other.
How you store your spring water is essential. It is not pasteurized like spring water from the store, so it will start growing algae if left in direct sunlight. This is good because it means it’s alive! If the water you drink can’t even support the most basic life forms, how do you think it will support your body? Store your water in a cool, dark place such as a dark corner, pantry or closet. The fridge is ideal if you have room. Some people prefer to filter their water through a Berkey filter before drinking, but if the spring is pure, it’s not necessary. We drink our spring water completely unfiltered.
How long the water stays good for depends on how cold a temperature it’s stored at. Spring water is best fresh. We personally do not prefer to drink spring water past 2 weeks old. However, we know other people that will drink it at a month old. It’s great to get in a rhythm where you know how long the water lasts you and put your collection day on the calendar in advance.
I believe that water is calling us to reconnect with her in the deepest way, to gather our own water. Just like our ancestors did. Our ancestors didn’t have fancy water machines. They also didn’t create villages or settle where there was no water. Water was revered as the center of the community and the nodal point around which life could spiral out and take root.
Here’s to restoring the sacred connection with the waters of life.
Written by Dakota Chanel. Water Priestess and Ceremonialist. DakotaChanel.com
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Henryton Spring, Marriottsville, Maryland
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Water tested was collected 1 week prior. Stored in our basement in cleaned glass recycled bottles.
Alkalinity 80ppm
pH 6
Hardness between 50-100ppm (Color variation was in between on the test strip)
Chlorine, Chlorine, Nitrate, Nitrate & Iron all 0ppm
Lead & Pesticide Negative
Currently waiting on the last test for bacteria which will not be ready for another 24 hours. Will update.
any updates on this?
Unfortunately my test showed that coliform bacteria IS present in the Marriottsville spring water.
Which means if you collect some, you should disinfect it by:
– Boiling the water for at least 1 minute
– Leaving the water in a clear jar in the sun for at least 6 hours (or 2 days if overcast)
– Chemical purification with bleach or chlorine.
I personally have not had a health issue from this water BUT that might not be the case for you. Be safe everyone 🙂
have you continued to drink water from this spring?
I do no issues
Water tested 2023-01-27. Results sound good to me! Results estimates based on colors of test strips. Water tasted great, almost silky.
Lead – Negative
Pesticides – Negative
Bacteria – Negative
Iron – 0ppm
Copper – 0ppm
Nitrate – 1ppm
Nitrite – 0ppm
Hardness – 100-120ppm
Total Chlorine – 0.5ppm
Free Chlorine – 0.5ppm
Alkalinity – 80ppm
pH – 6.2
Please excuse my typo- the Free Chlorine was actually 0ppm.
Thank you for this update!
Where can I purchase a test kit? What is the best way to store at home? Is there a limit for how long is stays in a container?
I know this page service has water test kits I am not sure for how much, I will be checking today. I store mine in glass jars, and i have a few plastic ones as well. As far as storage store in a dark cool place and check regularly
Hi Alex, Home Depot sells water testing kits – 2 kinds depending on how comprehensive a test you want. You can test just for bacteria (+ I think it was coliform as well), or for a number of additional items. But your best best is getting a test from a water testing outfit. I’ve been to Fountain Valley Analytical Labs in Westminster many a time (for my well water) and they are the BEST! Atlantic Water Systems is closer to Henryton, though (on 140 close to the end of 795) vs FVAL at the northern end of Westminster. AWS may be more expensive. Amazon surely sells kits too. 🙂 Isn’t it great to drink natural spring water but it does pay to have it tested now and again, especially if there are reports in the past of some contamination.
Hi! I stopped at the Spring today for the first time. I will be getting the water tested. Does anyone have any more recent tests than 2021? Also, does anyone know if the Carroll County Government tests the water every two to four weeks? If they do, how can we, as the general public, access the results? I will be researching this, but I wanted to inquire of those who may know. Thank you!
Hello! Have you tested the water yet?
I’ve been frequenting this spring and consistently drinking only this water for approx. 2 + years now and haven’t had any problems. Once filled, if the water containers sit stagnant in extreme heat or direct sunlight for prolonged periods of time the water becomes ALGAEIC! In my personal opinion this is a good thing! The water sourced from this location is always cold and the absolute most refreshing water I have had in my time experimenting with natural spring water intake. Never seen any signs or heard of any expressed concerns aside from the preference of a friend (very holistic vegan yogi, nursing major) who uses only Kangen (medical grade water filter) and her claim was that this water was acidic… which i do not agree with but have never done any testing of my own. Much love to all you spring lovers out there. Peace <3
Visited at 10/28/16 around 9:30 pm.
As mentioned above, the actual spring is located a little further down where the gps would lead you if you use the address above, not even a minute drive and you’ll hit the spring from said address.
Filled two 5 gallon jugs, took about 2 minutes to fill each one. I was there by myself and it was super dark and kind of creepy. Thought about slender man coming to get me lol…
Anyway, I never had “fresh spring water” and was confused on the comments on how amazing and fresh the water tastes. At the time I just thought “it’s just water…”.
I had a taste and was quite surprised on how refreshing this water was. I guess I understand the enthusiasm now!
You aren’t kidding. One of my all time favorite things to do is to go to this spring thirsty, and drink until i cant hold my breath any longer. I get such a rush, almost like an inner crust has been cleared from my insides. Spring water is the real deal.
went to spring today. water was running fast and was nice and cold. Beautiful area and we met some very nice people getting their jugs filled too. worth the trip
We went here and drank some water today, and brought my TDS tester with us. It clocked in as 51ppm with the tester in the running fountain, the temp was 55; then we tested it still in a glass as 36 ppm. It was good, a bit more minerally tasting than I like though, later we went to Spoutin spring about 40 miles further away… just sayin’! 🙂
Hi Felix, Based on your tests how is Spoutn spring water copared to this Henryton Spring one next to Sykesville/Marriottsville?
I was there a few times over the past few months filled up a couple 5 gallon containers. The water tastes great, and keeps well. No issues at all.
4/5/14
TDS 70ppm
Hardness- 5.5
Iron- 0
PH- 6.5
Taste is of good quality.
Area is clean and easily accessible.
Happy to find this spot with the help of this site. Thanks.
Thanks, Matt, for the info!
A friend was there last week and saw a sign posted, I cannot seem to upload it. There is evidence of E. coli.
7/13/20
I had this water tested with HRI labs for glyphosate, and there are NO traces of glyphosate or it’s breakdown products. Would like to eventually get the water tested for heavy metals and such!
I went there on Sat 8/12/16 to fill up a 3 gallon jug. The pipe is easy to find and there is some parking across the road. I used a kit from Sliver Lake and the results were negative for Iron, Copper, Nitrates, Nitrite, and Lead. The test was inconclusive for pesticides, but my tap water filtered through an Everpure H-300 NXT (which is ANSI/NSF 42, 53 and 401 certified) also tested inconclusive for pesticides. The pH is around 6.5/7 which may be too acidic for me 🙁
I talked to someone from the League of Maryland Horseman (which is where your GPS will take you if you use 8067 Henryton Road), and she enjoys the water. There was also a car behind me that was going to fill up.
The pipe is slightly west of 8067 Henryton Road.
Stopped there today. Everything looks good. Water pH was at 51 TDS when I used my meter and tastes great. Very happy to have found this spring.
I will be visiting this spring this coming Saturday. I’ll have a test kit and TDS monitor on hand. I’ll post here after our visit. I grew up pretty close to here and have a few concerns about the above mentioned landfill. It’s a true story. Located close to quarry nearby. I believe this spring is uphill from there though.
Hi all, I’ve easily had this water to drink in 2012. There seems to be a trend with bad mouthing the local springs in Maryland for one reason or another – this I do not believe. The water is pretty decent and I had 25 gallons sitting around for a month or so and had no issues. Could someone provide a recent water status?
probably water company or water bottle reps,trying to keep people from getting free water,everything is so corrupt any more sickening
12 Sep 2013.
Today was my first time to this spring. I was coming from Sykesville, so very easy to find the spring location and less than 6 miles from my house.
I had two 2.5 gallon containers; but can tell I am going to want to find some decent 5 gallon jugs or larger. The flow was decent and I just enjoyed the location while I waited for the jugs to fill.
Now sitting at my house, sipping a nice cool glass of water. I am pleasantly surprised at how good it tastes… no aftertastes. I will definitely be going back soon.
Bobby (and anyone else who can help),
I tried finding this spring yesterday (11/4/13) along Henryton Road and could not find it! Is it hidden off the road? I saw some type of horseback riding stable but no spring. I actually live about 15 minutes from Sykesville. Would you (or anyone here) be willing to accompany me on a visit to this spring? Would sooo appreciate it.
–Yvette
5/15/13
Went there for the first time last week. It was a wonderful experience visiting our first spring; very enlightening. Many locals value their springs and you get to hear a lot about its history. It becomes quite evident the sense of community a local spring can bring.
The water was cool, the taste was lovely, clean and the water flowed fairly fast. Next time we go in we will be testing the water. I’ll share the results.
I will mention that for the past couple of weeks (according to locals that use it and my own experience) there has been a large trash bag tied to a tree at the spring location, cigarette butts and other trash strewn about the hill. This is harmful to the environment and the wildlife.
Please try to keep our springs clean!
2/9/2013 – Went today to get water. When we left there was a line of people waiting. Filling up took some time (we had 10 five gallon jugs to fill) – it’s a lot slower than at Spouting Spring in Frederick, but a closer drive. Location is further up than the address given, but you can’t miss it. It’s on the right side and there’s a nice table set up there to put you jugs on as you’re filling up.
We just tested a sample of Henryton Spring water on 1/5/13 with the Watersafe well-water test kit by Silver Lake Research. Here are the results:
Contaminant: EPA-recommended levels / Henryton Spring water test sample result
Bacteria: None / Negative *
Lead: Below 15 ppb / Negative *
Pesticides (atrazine): Below 3 ppb / Positive *
Pesticides (simazine): Below 4 ppb / Positive *
Total Nitrate/Nitrite: Below 10.0 ppm / 0.6 – 0.7 ppm
Nitrite: Below 1.0 ppm / 0.080 – 00.10 ppm
Total Chlorine: Below 4 ppm / 0
pH: 6.5 to 8.5 / 7.5
Total Hardness: 50 ppm or less / 120
Copper: 1.3 ppm / 0
Iron: 0.3 ppm / 0
* Bacteria, Lead and Pesticide test results offer no numerical result but
rather Negative or Positive for contaminants. Negative result = none detected / Positive = potentially harmful/toxic contaminant levels
Based on the positive tests for atrazine and simazine, would you personally drink from this spring?
I’ve been drinking this water for over 2 years now. I had it tested, and it’s chlorine, lead, and flouride free. The PH was also consistent with being considered spring water. It’s coming from somewhere cold…deep inside the mountain. It’s cold in 100 degree weather.
Saturday, June 26, 2010,
Went for a ride today to check out some new springs in my area. I checked the TDS and temperature of Henryton Spring. TDS was 55. Temperature was 55.9 degrees fahrenheit, 13.2 degrees celsius. It took about 22 seconds to fill up a gallon jug.
Keep in mind that right on the other side of McKeldin park (about 2 miles downstream) there is an old landfill with a permanent water filtration facility that feeds into a stream with ‘Contaminated Water Avoid Contact’ signs. I worry about it contaminating the local ground water. Go to the end of Furman Lane on Google maps and you’ll see where I’m talking about. It is downstream but no guarantee when it comes to the flow of the underground aquifer.
Did anybody tested the water for lead or asbestos? I read that not far from the bridge over 210 acres were shut down for asbestos. I hope we are doing the right thing to drink this water. It’s been 6 weeks that I’m using it. I like the taste of it but I hope it’s safe.
Thanks for sharing 🙂
Wondering if anyone has been to this spring lately? Last post was Feb 24, 2011. Wanted to head up there but before I do I just wanted to make sure you can still use it.
Been drinking this water 2.5 years, cook with it, brew beer with it, its wonderful. Never boiled, never filtered before drinking.
It’s right next to the old abandoned Henryton Sanatorium. I explored the place after I collected water. A very strange place indeed.
Did you get all the way down across the train tracks to the swimming hole with rope swing? awesome place.
7/17/2011 – I tested the pH of the water on the 17th and it was 6+ with strips. I filled a case of glass liter bottles and have been using it all week. Terrific water and it stays “fresh”.
I noticed in the description above that there was a concern about the PVC pipe distribution. Because pipe is a “rigid” plastic, it doesn’t have any plasticizers in it. Basically it is inert, so you don’t have any migration from the pipe to the spring water. It is actually safer than cast iron, because it doesn’t corrode.
First ttime Inwent there, today, and the water is great, very refreshing and will continue going every week. I will test it soon as well and will post the results. Biggggg different in taste!
2/24/2011 – I tested this water today and the PH was 6.8. I know someone else read it at 5 and that’s not good and very unusual for spring water. I feel better now. We get the water and put it through a Brita filter before drinking. It’s probably not necessary, but makes me feel better. On Sunday, we had to wait in line to get water! A lot of people have been drinking this water for years, and no contamination reported. My daughter tested our city water here for this area, and it was off the chart for chlorine. Now that’s poisonous. I’ll drink spring water over city water any day.
I tested the PH of this water with some PH strips when we first filled up here. The PH was 5 but that is better PH than our tap water in MD.
I would love to know if anyone has tested this water. I used to use it a lot. My sister and brother in law have a farm very close by, and don’t use the water. They have walked up to find the actual spring, and say that the water flows open through the woods for several hundred feet until going into the pipes that bring it to the street side. There are many deer and other wildlife that roam the forest, and too many possibilities for contamination to be a secure. I was disappointed to hear this.
Has anyone tested the water for impurities? What are the “possibilities for contamination”?
I haven’t tested it, but it sure did taste great after a long ride on the motorcycle. It has to be better than the 80 year old rusty pipes that bring water to most houses where I live!
I see the most recent test posted shows presence of coliform bacteria. Is anyone who currently drinking this water/ having problems from it? I saw that putting it in the sun for some hours can clear up the problem- would this work in a clear plastic jug does anyone know? Thank you
Visited recently, wonderful clean cool water. Stored in glass jars.
Sampled this spring water Monday 10/30/23 and received results today 11/1/23. It would be so much easier if I could post a photo here.
Turbidity – 0.8 – Pass
Iron, Total – not detected – Acceptable
Lead, Total – not detected – Pass
NitrateN – not detected – Pass
Nitrate + Nitrate as N – 1.3 – Pass
Bacteria E.Coli – absent – Pass
Bacteria Total Coliform – present – Fail
Given that the nitrate levels are low (1.3 and the EPA acceptable max is 10.0), boiling the water might be a reasonable enough solution to the total coliform? Would love to know other people’s thoughts. I did also post pictures of the results on the “Test Results” tab.
Been drinking this water consistently for 2+ years with no problems. 90% of what I drink on a daily basis is water and 90% of that water comes from this spring. I go through approximately a 7 gallon container every 1-2 weeks. Water is always crisp cool and refreshing. Can feel the hydration immediately
Has anyone tested the water recently.
I just left the spring. I store my water in bpa free containers. I do not boil it but I do filter. It taste great! No problems with it being unhealthy to drink so far.
Has anyone tested this water recently (April 2018)? Would appreciate sharing results.
I’m going to test the water and will share the results. If anyone is interested in sharing the cost, or helping research the best place to have the test done, please contact me.
Where did I you go for testing?I have been drinking from this spring for about three years. I have had no problems.
Dorothy, if you are still looking for someone to help with testing, please contact me.
Just found this website. Does anyone have any information on this spring ? Are you able to drink straight from the spring?
Hi. Was the testing ever completed?
Anyone ever test this? Recently?
Dorothy I’m interested in splitting cost of water test with you!
Hi. Have you tested the water yet? Thank you.
Hi Dorothy – did you ever get the water tested? I actually just tested it for glyphosate
Is this water worth the drive?
Anyone ever follow through on testing? I’d be happy to help. Would love to know results.
I am also interested in the testing results as of recently
Just filled up from this Spring, (April 2018)! There were a few other people filling up too who have been drinking here for years without a problem. It was my first time and I did no testing or anything, drank straight from it and twas delicious!!!!
I went to the Spring this morning at 6 degrees yes that is right like 26 degrees below freezing and the water was still flowing and was as good as ever! I love this spring. Truly is a blessing from God.
There is a true and distinct taste and feel difference between this and tap water.
Even at this cold I had to wait my time in line for my water. That is awesome.
Was there about 1m ago, great taste, my 1y old son always drinking raw spring water, and absolutely no problems.
Has anybody done recent test for pesticides of water for this spring? Will appreciate sharing results.
I bought the “First Alert WT1 Drinking Water Test Kit” from Amazon. About 3 weeks ago my girlfriend used the bacteria test and it failed. I can only assume she didn’t contaminate the test somehow. Also, the water was also collected in a glass jug with a metal container (not sure on the material) and stored in the fridge for about 2 weeks before the test. So the water may have been contaminated after collection. Just to note, the container fell over and spilled a fair bit in the car and the lid came into contact with my car floor.
I have not, but it is on my list. I will post next month at the beginning of Dec.
We tried it out this past Friday filled up four gallon jugs of it before I could run it through the process of boiling and filtering my son drank it and he ended up in the emergency care with 102.7 fever so drink at caution and always boil your natural water!!!!
I drank out of this spring for 5 years straight without incident, never boiling or filtering the water. The one thing you DO need to check is the source, to make sure no animals have piddled in there. If it’s murky/weird, may have to stir and let it clear before collecting.
Hello All,
Does anyone have any updates on this spring? Has anyone tested it recently? Thanks in advance for the info.
Alkaline is 6.8 or higher
Acidic is wayyyy less then that.
I went to this spring yesterday and all looked nice. My TDS meter read 65ppm. I did not test anything else. water tasted great and had good flow.
Melina, I was there Dec. 1st and it seemed good to go. I didn’t run any tests on it though. It’s possible some leaves are decomposing near were the spring exits the hill causing the taste you mentioned. Hopefully that is all it was.
Does anyone know how this spring is doing? Water tasted a little moldy today?
Just a thought but does it make sense that water tested in cold months could give better results than the same water tested in summer? If it’s true that “the water flows open through the woods for several hundred feet until going into the pipes” that is a serious red flag. Of course some folks are more sensitive to bacteria than others.
I found an article from the Sun dating to 2001 that warns of elevated levels of bacteria (coliform) at 75 ppm.
http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2001-11-26/news/0111260130_1_coliform-bacteria-drinking-water-bacteria-per-100
I have been drinking this water on and off since this summer. During the past few months I’ve noticed that for me drinking this water is associated with bouts of diarrhea. Has anyone else experienced diarrhea in association with this water? I have not had it tested. Does anyone know if it has been conclusively tested for safety?