Through our involvement with the New England Regional Water Quality Program, we have partnered with the Maine Center for Disease Control and the US EPA Region 1 to help homeowners who are responsible for their own drinking water supply.

In Maine, about half of our residents get their water from a private source. These homeowners are responsible for having their water tested to make sure it is safe. How often you should test depends on what you’re testing for — for example, well water should be tested for bacteria and nitrates every year, while well water should be tested for arsenic, radon, and uranium every three to five years.

For well water information, including a complete listing of what to test for, please visit http://wellwater.maine.gov. To find a lab to test your drinking water, visit http://www.informe.org/hetl/ (we do not provide this service).

Additional Resources:

University of Maine Cooperative Extension Publications:

• Bacteria in Water Supplies, Part 1: Problem Bacteria and How to Test for Them
• Bacteria in Water Supplies, Part 2: How to Disinfect Your Well

Maine CDC Publication: Is your Well Water Safe to Drink?

University of Rhode Island Publications: Drinking Water Fact Sheets

If you have questions about well water, please contact UMaine Extension Water Quality Specialist John Jemison at jemison@maine.edu.

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