PFAS in Drinking Water in Maine
What residents of Maine need to know about PFAS ("forever chemicals") in drinking water — including contamination sources, which utilities have documented violations, and how to filter PFAS from tap water.
Source: EPA SDWIS, Maine Division of Environmental Health, CDC · Last reviewed: 2025-01-01
Quick Answer
Is PFAS in drinking water a real concern in Maine?
Yes — Maine is one of the most seriously PFAS-affected states in the country, with contamination from two distinct pathways: legacy military bases (Loring AFB, Dow AFB) and the widespread application of PFAS-containing sewer sludge (biosolids) to farmland. Maine's agricultural biosolids contamination is one of the most significant in the U.S., affecting farms, wells, and entire rural communities across multiple counties.
Where does PFAS come from in Maine?
Maine has two distinct PFAS exposure routes: (1) Legacy military AFFF contamination at former Loring AFB in Aroostook County and former Dow AFB in Bangor, and (2) PFAS-contaminated biosolids (sewer sludge) that were spread on agricultural fields across the state from the 1970s through the 2000s. The biosolids pathway has contaminated private wells on and near affected farms across central and western Maine — affecting dozens of farm families and surrounding communities.
What should Maine residents know?
Maine's biosolids PFAS crisis is unique in scale and impact. Farms in Fairfield, Corinth, Hartland, and numerous other communities have been found to have PFAS-contaminated soil, groundwater, and well water from historical biosolid application. The state has provided bottled water, whole-house filtration systems, and municipal water connections to affected farm families. This is an ongoing public health response.
Key Facts
| EPA MCL (PFOA/PFOS) | 4 ppt — effective April 2024 |
| MCLG | Zero |
| Primary contamination sources | PFAS-contaminated biosolids spread on farmland (statewide); former Loring AFB (Aroostook County); former Dow AFB (Bangor) |
| Biosolids pathway | Dozens of Maine farms found to have extreme PFAS in soil/wells from historical sludge application |
| State response | State-funded filtration, bottled water, and well testing for affected farm families |
| State regulator | Maine Division of Environmental Health |
| Health effects | Cancer (kidney, testicular), thyroid disruption, immune effects, developmental toxicity |
| Effective treatment | Whole-house reverse osmosis or GAC (state has provided systems to affected farm families) |
Why PFAS Matters in Maine
Maine's PFAS contamination from biosolids is a national case study in an underappreciated exposure pathway. For decades, municipal wastewater treatment plants sent processed sludge to farms as fertilizer — before anyone knew PFAS concentrations in biosolids were dangerously high. The Stoneridge Farm in Fairfield and dozens of other Maine farms were found to have extreme PFAS contamination in soil and groundwater. Maine has committed significant state resources to testing, remediation, and victim support. The state has also been proactive in requiring PFAS testing for private well owners near biosolid application fields. This biosolids pathway is a national concern, but Maine has been most aggressively documented and responded to.
Historical Context
Maine's biosolids crisis gained national attention after farm families near Fairfield reported extremely high PFAS levels in their drinking water wells. The state commissioned testing and found PFAS contamination extending beyond the farms themselves into surrounding community wells. Maine became a leading state in biosolids PFAS testing and remediation policy, and its experience has informed EPA and state guidance nationwide.
Maine PFAS Regulation
Maine DHHS adopted a 20 ppt (interim) standard in 2022 and has one of the most extensive PFAS-in-farmland programs in the country, after discovering PFAS-contaminated biosolids spread on agricultural land had contaminated private wells across multiple farms. The state offers free private well testing for PFAS and has a fund to provide alternative water to affected residents. Maine's contamination from farm biosolids — not military — is a nationally recognized model case.
Largest Maine Water Utilities
No PFAS violations on record in EPA SDWIS for Maine utilities in our database. Browse the largest utilities to review their full water quality record.
What Are PFAS (“Forever Chemicals”)?
PFAS are a family of over 12,000 synthetic chemicals used in non-stick cookware, stain-resistant fabrics, food packaging, and AFFF firefighting foam. Their carbon-fluorine bonds do not break down in the environment or the body — hence the name “forever chemicals.” AFFF used at military bases is the single largest source of PFAS in U.S. drinking water.
Full PFAS overview — national data, health effects, all 50 statesWho Should Pay Closest Attention
Rural farm families and private well owners in Somerset, Kennebec, Penobscot, and Oxford counties where biosolids were historically applied face the highest risk. Residents near former Loring AFB in Aroostook County and former Dow AFB (now Bangor International Airport) also face military-source PFAS risk.
Residents near military bases with AFFF use history
Private well owners near military or industrial sites
Pregnant residents and families with young children
Residents in communities with documented PFAS detections
Anyone who has consumed water above 4 ppt for an extended period
Residents near airports, fire training areas, or industrial manufacturers
How to Check Your Situation in Maine
- 1
Identify your water utility using the ZIP lookup below or by browsing the Maine utility directory on this site.
- 2
Review your utility's Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) — it must report PFAS monitoring results under UCMR5 and the new MCL.
- 3
Check the EPA's ECHO database for your utility's monitoring history. Look for PFAS, PFOA, PFOS, and related compound results.
- 4
Contact your utility directly and ask for their most recent PFAS test results and whether they are implementing treatment under the 2024 MCL.
- 5
If you use a private well near a military base, airport, or industrial facility, order a PFAS panel test from a state-certified laboratory. Tests typically cost $150–$400.
- 6
If PFAS is detected above 4 ppt in your source water, install a certified NSF/ANSI 58 reverse osmosis system or an NSF/ANSI 53-certified activated carbon filter rated for PFAS removal.
How to Remove PFAS from Tap Water
Reverse Osmosis (Best)
90–99% removal — NSF/ANSI 58 certified systems only
Certified Activated Carbon
Effective with NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 certification — verify before buying
Boiling concentrates PFAS. Standard pitcher filters and water softeners do not remove PFAS. Always verify NSF certification before purchasing.
Take Action Now
Look up your Maine utility's PFAS monitoring history on the PFAS Watchlist below.
If your utility has detected PFAS above 4 ppt, install an NSF/ANSI 58-certified reverse osmosis system at your drinking tap.
Private well owners near military or industrial sites should order a PFAS panel test ($150–$400 at a state-certified lab).
Request your utility's most recent Consumer Confidence Report — PFAS results must be disclosed under the new 2024 MCL.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Pages
PFAS — National Overview
All U.S. utilities with PFAS records
Maine PFAS Watchlist
Live utility PFAS monitoring data
Maine State Overview
All utilities and water quality data
Reverse Osmosis Guide
Removes 90–99% of PFAS
Activated Carbon Filter Guide
NSF/ANSI 53/58 certified options for PFAS
Arsenic in Drinking Water
Another priority contaminant
All Contaminants
Complete reference library
Data Sources & Provenance
All data on this page is sourced from official U.S. government or public datasets.
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Maine Division of Environmental Health ↗