Maine lake

Well Water Safety

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 Maine.gov’s Water page (Department of Health and Human Services). To find a lab to test your drinking water, visit Maine Health and Environmental Testing Laboratory’s Order Water Testing Kits website (we do not provide this service).

Additional Resources

If you have questions about well water safety or testing, please note that UMaine Extension does not provide water testing services and does not currently have a water quality specialist on staff. However, this page offers resources and directs you to the appropriate organizations that do offer testing and guidance.

For any other general assistance, you may contact UMaine Extension at 207.581.3188 or toll-free 800.287.0274 in Maine.