Safe Drinking Water Guide
August this year came with extremely hot days. The cool breeze anticipating the end of summer is nice and refreshing, but staying hydrated and drinking lots of water is essential. Equally important is knowing if your water is free from contaminants and safe for drinking and cooking, particularly if it comes directly from a well.
This is why we put together a guide to common contaminants in Maine’s drinking water and resources available for testing and remediation.
In Maine, more than half of residents rely on well water for daily drinking and cooking. Residential well water is not subject to requirements around testing and remediation, which means that thousands of Mainers could be exposed to common contaminants like arsenic, radon, fluoride, PFAS, lead, nitrate, or coliform bacteria, to name a few.
Long term exposure to these common contaminants has been linked to different types of cancers, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and reproductive issues. Exposure in children can also lead to behavior and learning problems, developmental delays, and learning disabilities.
On this page, learn the facts about some of the most common well water contaminants, then learn how to test your water and what to do if you need to treat your water to protect yourself and your family!
Common Contaminants 101
Arsenic
- Naturally-occurring arsenic is commonly found in Maine well water
- 1 in 6 wells in Maine have levels of arsenic that exceed the federal standard of 10 ppb (parts per billion)
- Arsenic in drinking water is linked to bladder, skin, and lung cancer as well as to harm in children’s brain development. Long-term exposure to arsenic from drinking water has also been associated with cardiovascular disease and diabetesIn utero and early childhood exposure has been linked to negative impacts on cognitive development and increased deaths in young adults
Radon
- Radon is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless radioactive gas that is naturally present in the environment. It is produced by the decay of uranium, which is found in varying amounts in soil, rock, and water. Radon can enter homes through the ground and, in some cases, well water
- Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking, and it is estimated to be responsible for thousands of lung cancer deaths each year worldwide
- The major danger from radon in water is when the water is used—for bathing, washing laundry, or even flushing toilets. The radon escapes from the water into the air which is breathed by all family members. There is also some risk from drinking the water, but it is less than the risk from the radon added to the air.
Fluoride
- Fluoride is a form of fluorine, a natural element. Fluoride is found in rocks deep underground and all natural waters
- Fluoride can enter residential wells from erosion of rocks underground or as a discharge during industrial activities
- Fluoride in drinking water at low concentrations can prevent tooth decay, but at higher concentrations can be harmful to human health
- The US EPA developed a public drinking water standard of 4 mg/L
PFAS
- More than 98% of people have PFAS in their blood
- Health risks include: Interference with normal brain development in children, increased risk of certain types of cancers, fertility issues, immunosuppression, hormone disruption, and liver and thyroid issues
- In Maine, over 700 sites were spread with PFAS-laden sludge, putting residential wells at risk
Lead
- Lead can enter drinking water when plumbing materials that contain lead corrode, especially where the water has high acidity or low mineral content that corrodes pipes and fixtures
- In children, exposure to lead has been linked to behavior and learning problems, developmental delays, learning disabilities, and behavioral issues, hearing problems, and anemia
- In pregnant women, lead exposure is linked to reduced growth of the fetus and premature birth
- Adults exposed to lead can suffer from: Cardiovascular effects, increased blood pressure and incidence of hypertension; Decreased kidney function; and Reproductive problems (in both men and women)
Total Coliform and E. Coli
- Total Coliform is a group of bacteria present all around us, most of which are not dangerous to human health. However, these bacteria are not naturally present in groundwater and are an indication that more harmful organisms might be present.
- Fecal Coliform and E. coli are subgroups within the Total Coliform group which primarily come from the feces of warm blooded animals. Presence of E. coli indicates that the water has been exposed to feces and an immediate risk to human health exists
- These are some disease-causing organisms or pathogens that could be present in your water: Bacteria that cause diarrhea and vomiting; Protozoa that cause dysentery; Viruses that cause polio and hepatitis; and Helminths, such as roundworms and tapeworms, that cause chronic diarrhea.
- If your water sample tests positive for Total Coliform but negative for E. coli there is not an immediate health concern but further investigation is important. If Total Coliform bacteria are reaching the well, more dangerous bacteria may also reach the well so it is important to explore the likely source.
Nitrates
- Elevated nitrate levels in drinking water are often caused by groundwater contamination from animal waste run-off from dairies and feedlots, excessive use of fertilizers, or seepage of human sewage from private septic systems. Microorganisms in the soil, water and sewage change the nitrate to nitrite
- You cannot taste, smell, or see nitrate in water. Consuming too much nitrate can be harmful—especially for babies.
- Consuming too much nitrate can affect how blood carries oxygen and cause methemoglobinemia (also known as a blue baby syndrome). Bottle-fed babies under six months old are at the highest risk of getting this illness. Methemoglobinemia can result in serious illness or death. It can cause the lips and skin to turn a bluish color but may be difficult to detect in infants. Symptoms will often resolve once the nitrate source is removed.
- The following conditions may also put people at higher risk of developing nitrate-induced methemoglobinemia: anemia, cardiovascular disease, lung disease, sepsis, glucose-6-phosphate-dehydrogenase deficiency, and some metabolic problems.
- The US EPA standard for nitrate in drinking water is 10 milligrams of nitrate (measured as nitrogen). per liter of drinking water (mg/L). 1 milligram per liter (mg/L) is the same as 1 part per million The only way to know that well water is safe to drink is to test it
Test Your Water
These toxic contaminants can’t be seen, smelled, or tasted in drinking water. Without testing, no one can tell if they’re there.
But don’t worry! Testing your water is simple, and there are many options for remediation available in case your water tests above the health protective standards for any of these contaminants.
The state of Maine offers resources to make testing and remediation accessible to all Mainers.
- The Drinking Water Program at the Department of Health and Human Services can provide free help to well owners who have questions about their wells, water sampling, and water treatment.
- Call 1-866-292-3474 or 207-287-4311 to find a certified well water testing lab
- The Department of Health and Human Services, through the Health and Environmental Testing Laboratory, offers free well water testing for low-income residents of the State via this online request form.
**Outside of Maine? Search your state and “drinking water program” – most states have programs and resources similar to what is available in Maine! If you can’t find information for your state, email our team for guidance.
Well Water Remediation
Depending on the type and levels of contamination, some available remediation systems might include reverse-osmosis, absorption, or ion-exchange filters. Some of these filters can be purchased online and installed by a homeowner or a plumber, or through a water treatment specialist.
For low levels of contamination pour-through water filters, like a table-top pitcher, might be a good option too. (Learn more here!)
If you can’t afford to treat your well, the Maine Housing Well Water Abatement Program supports low-income residents with high levels of contamination in their drinking water to get a remediation system installed. Call MaineHousing at 800-452-4668 or Maine Relay 711, or visit mainehousing.org for more information.
Interested in getting your well water tested or need help figuring our what to do with your test results? Check out the resources above or contact us!
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