Water Quality in Maine
387 water systems • 162 cities • EPA SDWIS Data
387
Water Systems
6,830
Total Violations
913
Health-Based Violations
691,040
Population Served
Overview
Maine has 387 active community water systems serving 691,040 people. These systems have accumulated 6,830 EPA Safe Drinking Water Act violations on record, of which 913 are health-based violations (meaning a contaminant exceeded safe levels).
Common contaminants found in violations: Selenium, Disinfection Byproducts, Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate, E. coli, Barium, Haloacetic Acids, HAA5, Total Organic Carbon, Nitrate, Cyanide.
Cities with Most Violations in Maine
| # | City | Violations | Health-Based | Water Systems | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mars Hill | 261 | 126 | 1 | 1,500 |
| 2 | Bangor | 245 | 32 | 22 | 28,949 |
| 3 | Orono | 183 | 1 | 7 | 6,151 |
| 4 | Hermon | 181 | 8 | 3 | 340 |
| 5 | Princeton | 180 | 15 | 3 | 660 |
| 6 | Carmel | 177 | 0 | 4 | 301 |
| 7 | Waterville | 166 | 44 | 5 | 22,253 |
| 8 | Portland | 158 | 11 | 12 | 136,052 |
| 9 | Brunswick | 146 | 0 | 3 | 357 |
| 10 | Turner | 127 | 14 | 2 | 223 |
Largest Cities in Maine
All Cities in Maine
| City | Population | Violations | Health Violations | Contaminants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | 136,052 | 158 | 11 | Barium, Disinfection Byproducts |
| Poland | 92,520 | 102 | 30 | Disinfection Byproducts, E. coli, Fecal Coliform +1 more |
| Kennebunk | 35,988 | 74 | 0 | |
| Bangor | 28,949 | 245 | 32 | Barium, Disinfection Byproducts, Gross Alpha +1 more |
| Lisbon | 23,888 | 41 | 6 | Disinfection Byproducts, Fecal Coliform |
| Lewiston | 23,793 | 5 | 1 | Fecal Coliform |
| Waterville | 22,253 | 166 | 44 | Disinfection Byproducts, E. coli, Fecal Coliform +2 more |
| Topsham | 18,628 | 37 | 0 | |
| Sanford | 14,500 | 3 | 1 | Disinfection Byproducts |
| Kittery | 14,478 | 18 | 0 | |
| Augusta | 13,913 | 28 | 0 | |
| York | 13,675 | 4 | 0 | |
| Richmond | 10,091 | 68 | 2 | Disinfection Byproducts |
| Bath | 9,436 | 5 | 0 | |
| Winterport | 9,137 | 65 | 23 | Disinfection Byproducts, E. coli, HAA5 +1 more |
| Brewer | 9,109 | 4 | 2 | Disinfection Byproducts |
| Gardiner | 9,000 | 39 | 0 | |
| Boothbay | 8,448 | 5 | 0 | |
| Yarmouth | 8,000 | 13 | 0 | |
| Old Town | 7,913 | 40 | 0 | |
| Presque Isle | 6,441 | 37 | 2 | Disinfection Byproducts |
| Orono | 6,151 | 183 | 1 | Disinfection Byproducts |
| Belfast | 5,826 | 53 | 0 | |
| Houlton | 5,023 | 89 | 0 | |
| Hampden | 4,628 | 8 | 1 | Disinfection Byproducts |
| Bar Harbor | 4,548 | 48 | 3 | Barium |
| Bridgton | 4,378 | 27 | 1 | Disinfection Byproducts |
| Farmington | 4,050 | 9 | 0 | |
| Rumford | 4,050 | 7 | 0 | |
| Caribou | 4,044 | 16 | 0 | |
| South Berwick | 3,975 | 27 | 11 | Barium, Disinfection Byproducts |
| Surry | 3,910 | 37 | 21 | TTHM |
| North Waterboro | 3,500 | 5 | 0 | |
| Winthrop | 3,392 | 19 | 1 | Gross Alpha |
| Norway | 3,100 | 2 | 2 | Chromium |
| South Paris | 3,025 | 6 | 0 | |
| Lincoln | 3,020 | 4 | 0 | |
| Livermore Falls | 2,995 | 7 | 6 | TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Wilton | 2,800 | 15 | 0 | |
| Wiscasset | 2,768 | 118 | 70 | Barium, Disinfection Byproducts, E. coli +1 more |
| Searsport | 2,763 | 75 | 0 | |
| Madawaska | 2,738 | 2 | 0 | |
| Saco | 2,630 | 42 | 7 | Chlorine, Disinfection Byproducts, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Northeast Harbor | 2,488 | 49 | 0 | |
| Southwest Harbor | 2,480 | 41 | 7 | TTHM |
| Gray | 2,468 | 14 | 5 | E. coli |
| Dover-Foxcroft | 2,440 | 29 | 10 | Barium |
| Mexico | 2,425 | 0 | 0 | |
| Dexter | 2,338 | 10 | 2 | Disinfection Byproducts |
| Hallowell | 2,300 | 0 | 0 | |
| Van Buren | 2,190 | 4 | 0 | |
| Damariscotta | 2,143 | 14 | 3 | Disinfection Byproducts, Fecal Coliform |
| East Millinocket | 2,133 | 4 | 0 | |
| Eastport | 2,125 | 11 | 7 | TTHM |
| Fort Fairfield | 2,025 | 6 | 2 | Chlorine, Disinfection Byproducts |
| Mechanic Falls | 2,010 | 9 | 0 | |
| Newport | 1,950 | 14 | 2 | E. coli |
| Sabattus | 1,841 | 54 | 7 | E. coli, Haloacetic Acids |
| North Berwick | 1,825 | 75 | 2 | Disinfection Byproducts, E. coli |
| Lubec | 1,775 | 17 | 0 | |
| Carrabassett Valley | 1,730 | 63 | 28 | Disinfection Byproducts, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Milo | 1,720 | 7 | 3 | Fecal Coliform |
| Fort Kent | 1,703 | 72 | 1 | Disinfection Byproducts |
| Sangerville | 1,535 | 19 | 3 | Disinfection Byproducts |
| Alfred | 1,502 | 90 | 4 | Disinfection Byproducts, E. coli |
| Mars Hill | 1,500 | 261 | 126 | TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Machias | 1,479 | 12 | 0 | |
| Jay | 1,475 | 40 | 18 | TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Dixfield | 1,415 | 5 | 1 | Disinfection Byproducts |
| Rangeley | 1,378 | 1 | 1 | Disinfection Byproducts |
| Scottsdale | 1,222 | 0 | 0 | |
| Jackman | 1,125 | 27 | 22 | TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Kingfield | 1,095 | 32 | 2 | Disinfection Byproducts |
| Castine | 1,056 | 41 | 3 | E. coli |
| Norridgewock | 1,055 | 5 | 0 | |
| Howland | 1,025 | 6 | 0 | |
| Pittsfield | 1,013 | 6 | 0 | |
| Brownville | 916 | 1 | 0 | |
| Limestone | 875 | 6 | 0 | |
| Harrison | 863 | 9 | 0 | |
| Gorham | 853 | 10 | 1 | Disinfection Byproducts |
| Cornish | 753 | 3 | 0 | |
| Limerick | 740 | 56 | 3 | Barium, TTHM |
| North Haven | 740 | 7 | 1 | Disinfection Byproducts |
| Bowdoinham | 738 | 0 | 0 | |
| Ashland | 713 | 5 | 0 | |
| Winter Harbor | 700 | 17 | 0 | |
| Washburn | 688 | 83 | 0 | |
| Princeton | 660 | 180 | 15 | Disinfection Byproducts, E. coli |
| Phillips | 650 | 7 | 1 | Disinfection Byproducts |
| Eagle Lake | 585 | 2 | 0 | |
| Farmington Hills | 560 | 9 | 0 | |
| West Paris | 540 | 43 | 10 | Disinfection Byproducts, E. coli |
| Charleston | 503 | 26 | 0 | |
| Strong | 500 | 0 | 0 | |
| Island Falls | 475 | 108 | 1 | Disinfection Byproducts |
| Solon | 475 | 13 | 0 | |
| Stratton | 475 | 0 | 0 | |
| Biddeford | 470 | 2 | 0 | |
| Franklin | 443 | 20 | 1 | Disinfection Byproducts |
| Buckfield | 425 | 28 | 6 | Disinfection Byproducts, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Milbridge | 405 | 41 | 0 | |
| Northbrook | 395 | 71 | 1 | Disinfection Byproducts |
| Danforth | 373 | 7 | 0 | |
| Brunswick | 357 | 146 | 0 | |
| Canaan | 350 | 7 | 0 | |
| Leeds | 348 | 9 | 0 | |
| Sudbury | 341 | 36 | 15 | Barium, E. coli |
| Hermon | 340 | 181 | 8 | E. coli, Gross Alpha |
| Patten | 338 | 6 | 0 | |
| Port Clyde | 330 | 32 | 0 | |
| Great Neck | 316 | 25 | 0 | |
| Bingham | 313 | 26 | 0 | |
| Sullivan | 308 | 67 | 56 | Disinfection Byproducts, TTHM |
| Lamoine | 305 | 3 | 0 | |
| Harrington | 303 | 6 | 0 | |
| Carmel | 301 | 177 | 0 | |
| Atkinson | 300 | 8 | 0 | |
| Monson | 298 | 50 | 5 | Disinfection Byproducts |
| Grand Isle | 278 | 29 | 0 | |
| Lebanon | 270 | 5 | 0 | |
| Andover | 265 | 11 | 0 | |
| Camden | 251 | 30 | 13 | Barium, Disinfection Byproducts |
| Canton | 243 | 28 | 6 | Disinfection Byproducts, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Woonsocket | 241 | 31 | 6 | Disinfection Byproducts, Selenium |
| Sparta | 233 | 38 | 2 | Disinfection Byproducts |
| Farmingdale | 230 | 4 | 0 | |
| Freeport | 225 | 5 | 1 | Disinfection Byproducts |
| Farmington Falls | 225 | 9 | 0 | |
| Turner | 223 | 127 | 14 | Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) |
| Hollis Center | 216 | 2 | 0 | |
| Easton | 214 | 20 | 2 | Disinfection Byproducts |
| Shapleigh | 210 | 86 | 0 | |
| Kalispell | 205 | 11 | 0 | |
| Palmyra | 193 | 8 | 1 | Selenium |
| Hancock | 191 | 71 | 41 | Barium, Disinfection Byproducts |
| San Francisco | 185 | 37 | 11 | Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate |
| Addison | 168 | 11 | 1 | Disinfection Byproducts |
| Thomaston | 163 | 14 | 1 | E. coli |
| Benton | 158 | 33 | 0 | |
| Swanville | 150 | 34 | 5 | E. coli |
| Plymouth | 150 | 14 | 0 | |
| Wells | 148 | 18 | 0 | |
| Morrill | 143 | 7 | 0 | |
| Frenchville | 143 | 64 | 0 | |
| East Poland | 140 | 21 | 10 | HAA5 |
| Auburn | 135 | 18 | 1 | E. coli |
| North Ogden | 133 | 8 | 0 | |
| Embden | 130 | 5 | 0 | |
| New Gloucester | 130 | 2 | 0 | |
| Fryeburg | 123 | 69 | 0 | |
| Naples | 121 | 20 | 4 | Disinfection Byproducts |
| Blue Hill | 120 | 8 | 0 | |
| Bucksport | 110 | 6 | 0 | |
| Pittston | 108 | 21 | 0 | |
| Holden | 107 | 21 | 2 | Disinfection Byproducts |
| Bristol | 105 | 10 | 0 | |
| Epsom | 105 | 7 | 5 | Barium |
| Stonington | 104 | 41 | 12 | Disinfection Byproducts, Haloacetic Acids |
| Rowley | 104 | 29 | 0 | |
| St Francis | 100 | 45 | 4 | Disinfection Byproducts, E. coli |
| Somersworth | 100 | 1 | 0 |
Data Sources
Drinking water data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). Only active community water systems (CWS) serving 100+ people are included.