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
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.
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’! 🙂
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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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
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.
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?