Step 4: What Can I Do if My Water is Contaminated with PFAS?

The state’s current Drinking Water standard for PFAS is 20 parts per trillion (ppt) for the sum of the following six PFAS: PFOA, PFOS, PFDA, PFNA, PFxHS, and PFHpA. If your drinking water exceeds this standard, you can tell DEP by contacting pfas.dep@maine.gov or David.Madore@maine.gov, 207-287-5842. That way they are aware of all contamination issues and may assist you with interpretation if needed. DEP will also assist homeowners with obtaining clean drinking water if contamination of a well can be tied to a DEP-licensed sludge or septage application site.
Note that Maine may adopt lower drinking water standards in the future. New rules for PFAS in drinking water were issued by the EPA in April 2024 and they are stricter than Maine’s current interim standards.
Filtration options include charcoal filters (granular activated charcoal) and reverse osmosis. How much PFAS is removed depends on how much there is, the type of filter, and how well the filter is maintained. If you contact the companies that make the filtration systems, they may have suggestions about the specific details that will work best in your situation.
If testing reveals high levels of PFAS in your water and that water has been used to irrigate your garden, you may also want to test your soil.

To direct questions to University of Maine Cooperative Extension, please email: extension.PFASQuestions@maine.edu