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PFAS in Maine drinking water

38 community water systems tested

13.2%
of tested systems detected PFOA or PFOS
(5/38)

PFAS — “forever chemicals” — are synthetic compounds that accumulate in the body and are linked to cancer, liver damage and immune effects. In 2024 the EPA set enforceable limits of 4 parts per trillion each for PFOA and PFOS. These are the only nationwide PFAS measurements, from the EPA’s UCMR-5 program.

Water systems

PFAS value per system, 2023–2025. EPA limit — 4 ppt (0.004 µg/L) for PFOA and PFOS, set in 2024. Systems that detected PFOA or PFOS are highlighted and listed first. “Not detected” means the contaminant was measured but not found.
SystemCityPopulationPFAS (ug/L)
YARMOUTH WATER DISTRICT NORTH YARMOUTH 8,000 0.0092 ug/L
SANFORD WATER DISTRICT SANFORD 14,328 0.0071 ug/L
KENNEBEC WATER DISTRICT FAIRFIELD 22,060 0.0064 ug/L
HOULTON WATER COMPANY HOULTON 4,735 0.0048 ug/L
LISBON WATER DEPARTMENT LISBON 6,643 0.0041 ug/L
PORTLAND WATER DISTRICT-GREATER CAPE ELIZABETH 135,068 Not detected
MAINE WATER COMPANY BIDDEFORD SACO DIV BIDDEFORD 42,508 Not detected
KENNEBUNK, KENNEBUNKPORT & WELLS WD KENNEBUNK 35,663 Not detected
BANGOR WATER DISTRICT BANGOR 27,298 Not detected
LEWISTON WATER & SEWER DIVISION LEWISTON 23,720 Not detected
MAINE WATER COMPANY CAMDEN & ROCKLAND CAMDEN 21,315 Not detected
BRUNSWICK/TOPSHAM WATER DISTRICT BRUNSWICK 18,863 Not detected
AUBURN WATER DISTRICT AUBURN 17,245 Not detected
KITTERY WATER DISTRICT KITTERY 14,478 Not detected
GREATER AUGUSTA UTILITY DISTRICT AUGUSTA 13,750 Not detected
YORK WATER DISTRICT YORK 13,675 Not detected
BATH WATER DISTRICT BATH 9,205 Not detected
GARDINER WATER DISTRICT GARDINER 9,000 Not detected
BREWER WATER DEPARTMENT BREWER 8,860 Not detected
BOOTHBAY REGION WATER DISTRICT BOOTHBAY 8,448 Not detected
OLD TOWN WATER DISTRICT OLD TOWN 7,648 Not detected
PRESQUE ISLE UTILITIES DISTRICT PRESQUE ISLE 6,128 Not detected
MAINE WATER COMPANY SKOWHEGAN DIVISION SKOWHEGAN 6,105 Not detected
ORONO-VEAZIE WATER DISTRICT ORONO 5,793 Not detected
BELFAST WATER DISTRICT BELFAST 5,698 Not detected
ANSON AND MADISON WATER DISTRICT ANSON 5,568 Not detected
MAINE WATER COMPANY MILLINOCKET DIVISION MILLINOCKET 5,400 Not detected
HAMPDEN WATER DISTRICT HAMPDEN 4,628 Not detected
TOWN OF BAR HARBOR- WATER DIVISION BAR HARBOR 4,443 Not detected
FARMINGTON VILLAGE CORP WATER DEPT FARMINGTON 4,050 Not detected
RUMFORD WATER DISTRICT RUMFORD 4,050 Not detected
CARIBOU UTILITIES DISTRICT CARIBOU 3,943 Not detected
ELLSWORTH WATER DEPARTMENT ELLSWORTH 3,910 Not detected
SOUTH BERWICK WATER DISTRICT BERWICK 3,722 Not detected
LAKE ARROWHEAD COMMUNITY INC WATERBORO 3,500 Not detected
VAN BUREN WATER DISTRICT VAN BUREN 2,190 Not detected
VINALHAVEN WATER DISTRICT VINALHAVEN 1,053 Not detected
FRANKLIN WATER DEPARTMENT FRANKLIN 443 Not detected