PFAS · Maine
PFAS in Maine drinking water: EPA’s final survey results
EPA’s national PFAS survey (UCMR 5) tested 39 of the community water systems that serve homes in Maine. 9 found at least one of 29 PFAS above the laboratory reporting level, and 2 had a PFOA or PFOS sampling-location yearly average at or above EPA’s 4.0 ppt limit. Samples were collected from February 2023 to December 2025.
Data as of EPA UCMR 5 final release, August 2026 (file dated Aug 28, 2026) · EPA SDWIS 2026Q2 (file dated Jul 9, 2026). How we build these pages
PFHxA was the compound Maine community systems found most often: 8 of 39 tested systems measured it above the reporting level. Across the country, 35% of surveyed community systems found at least one PFAS; in Maine the share is 23%. The largest Maine system with a detection, Kennebec Water District, serves 22,060 people and found 4 of the 29 compounds.
Which PFAS were found most often in Maine
Each row counts the Maine community water systems where that compound was measured above the reporting level at least once. A detection is a measurement, not a violation: most of these compounds have no federal limit.
| Compound | Systems where found | Systems tested | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| PFHxA | 8 | 39 | 21% |
| PFPeA | 6 | 39 | 15% |
| PFBA | 5 | 39 | 13% |
| PFHxS | 4 | 39 | 10% |
| PFOA | 4 | 39 | 10% |
| PFHpA | 3 | 39 | 8% |
| PFOS | 2 | 39 | 5% |
| PFBS | 1 | 39 | 3% |
Maine systems with the most PFAS found
The 9 surveyed community water systems that found the most different PFAS, with PFOA and PFOS compared to EPA’s 4.0 ppt limits on the yearly average at the highest sampling location. Larger systems come first when counts tie.
| Water system | People served | PFAS found (of 29) | PFOA | PFOS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sanford Water District ME0091410 | 14,328 | 7 | 6.2 ppt at or above the MCL | 6.2 ppt at or above the MCL |
| Yarmouth Water District ME0091670 | 8,000 | 5 | 8.2 ppt at or above the MCL | — not detected above the reporting level |
| Lisbon Water Department ME0090870 | 6,643 | 5 | 2.1 ppt below the MCL | — not detected above the reporting level |
| Kennebec Water District ME0090750 | 22,060 | 4 | 3.98 ppt below the MCL | — not detected above the reporting level |
| Franklin Water Department ME0090570 | 443 | 4 | — not detected above the reporting level | — not detected above the reporting level |
| Belfast Water District ME0090140 | 5,698 | 3 | — not detected above the reporting level | — not detected above the reporting level |
| Gardiner Water District ME0090610 | 9,000 | 2 | — not detected above the reporting level | — not detected above the reporting level |
| Town of Bar Harbor- Water Division ME0090120 | 4,443 | 2 | — not detected above the reporting level | — not detected above the reporting level |
| Houlton Water Company ME0090700 | 4,735 | 1 | — not detected above the reporting level | 2.4 ppt below the MCL |
Counties with the most systems that found PFAS
- Kennebec County 2 of 3 surveyed systems
- Hancock County 2 of 3 surveyed systems
- Cumberland County 1 of 3 surveyed systems
- York County 1 of 8 surveyed systems
- Androscoggin County 1 of 3 surveyed systems
- Aroostook County 1 of 4 surveyed systems
- Waldo County 1 of 1 surveyed systems