Maine Tap Water Quality Report

222 cities analyzed • 610,271 people served

Updated March 2026 • Data from EWG & EPA SDWIS

222

Cities Analyzed

5.1

Avg Above Guidelines

610,271

Total Population Served

Best Water Quality

Strong (0 above guidelines)

Most Concerns

Augusta (19 above guidelines)

Most Common Contaminants in Maine

Contaminant	Found In	% of Cities
Barium	180 of 222	81%
Manganese	152 of 222	68%
Nitrate carcinogen	145 of 222	65%
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) carcinogen	127 of 222	57%
Nitrate and nitrite carcinogen	120 of 222	54%
Radium, combined (-226 and -228)	117 of 222	53%
Fluoride	116 of 222	52%
Arsenic carcinogen	103 of 222	46%
Uranium carcinogen	91 of 222	41%
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) carcinogen	81 of 222	36%

City-by-City Water Quality Rankings

Ranked by number of contaminants above EWG health guidelines (most to fewest).

#	City	Detected	Above Guidelines	Above Legal	People Served
1	Augusta	29	19	0	15,040
2	Charleston	18	13	2	500
3	Kennebunk	17	12	0	35,663
4	Gardiner	20	12	0	8,000
5	Hampden	23	12	0	4,628
6	Searsport	14	12	0	2,763
7	Hallowell	18	12	2	2,138
8	Topsham	23	11	0	17,943
9	Sanford	23	11	0	14,025
10	Boothbay	19	11	0	9,250
11	Yarmouth	16	11	0	7,960
12	South Berwick	15	11	0	3,360
13	Carrabassett Valley	18	11	1	3,115
14	Limerick	14	11	0	625
15	York	15	10	0	13,400
16	Belfast	18	10	0	5,095
17	Winterport	15	10	0	3,228
18	Mechanic Falls	14	10	0	2,125
19	Newport	14	10	0	1,900
20	West Gardiner	18	10	0	835
21	Biddeford	15	9	0	39,605
22	Bangor	18	9	0	26,868
23	Kittery	14	9	0	14,250
24	Old Town	15	9	0	7,498
25	Presque Isle	11	9	0	5,810
26	Rumford	13	9	0	4,250
27	Lincoln	12	9	0	3,550
28	Howland	12	9	0	1,025
29	Harrison	12	9	0	813
30	Cornish	12	9	0	753
31	Alfred	10	9	0	723
32	Ashland	12	9	0	713
33	Eagle Lake	11	9	0	585
34	Patten	13	9	0	390
35	Union	14	9	2	50
36	Sebattus	15	9	2	25
37	Waterville	15	8	1	21,808
38	Brewer	15	8	0	8,858
39	Madawaska	12	8	0	2,727
40	Gray	13	8	0	2,468
41	Dexter	13	8	0	2,338
42	Wiscasset	14	8	0	1,850
43	Mars Hill	15	8	0	1,500
44	Canton	12	8	0	228
45	Addison	11	8	1	168
46	Blue Hill	11	8	1	155
47	East Corinth	10	8	0	98
48	Benton	11	8	0	83
49	Machiasport	14	8	0	63
50	Newburgh	9	8	1	60
51	Jonesport	11	8	0	50
52	New Field	11	8	0	0
53	Poland	12	7	0	6,125
54	Orono	11	7	0	5,793
55	Houlton	9	7	0	4,735
56	Livermore Falls	11	7	0	2,968
57	Eastport	11	7	0	2,125
58	Jay	14	7	0	853
59	North Haven	13	7	0	740
60	Franklin	12	7	0	443
61	Sullivan	9	7	0	308
62	Plymouth	12	7	1	150
63	Morrill	11	7	0	145
64	East Poland	10	7	0	140
65	Woonsocket	14	7	0	105
66	Corinth	13	7	2	75
67	Burlington	10	7	0	75
68	Greene	14	7	2	65
69	Arundel	9	7	0	57
70	Richmond	9	6	0	5,475
71	Caribou	9	6	0	4,210
72	Mexico	9	6	0	2,425
73	Wilton	11	6	0	2,375
74	Norway	9	6	0	2,000
75	Milo	9	6	0	1,750
76	Rangeley	10	6	0	1,265
77	Jackman	11	6	0	1,108
78	Holden	11	6	0	395
79	El Segundo	11	6	0	185
80	Orland	9	6	0	110
81	Corinna	9	6	0	110
82	Cherryfield	10	6	1	97
83	Kenduskeag	10	6	1	90
84	Penobscot	9	6	0	38
85	Rockport	11	5	0	19,438
86	Lisbon	10	5	0	17,245
87	Sabattus	7	5	0	1,550
88	Kingfield	6	5	0	918
89	Gorham	7	5	1	763
90	Bridgton	7	5	0	718
91	Winter Harbor	8	5	0	700
92	Island Falls	9	5	0	463
93	Standish	8	5	0	435
94	Palmyra	11	5	0	190
95	Camden	9	5	1	130
96	Epsom	13	5	0	105
97	Hartford	7	5	0	88
98	Swanville	11	5	0	75
99	Orrington	9	5	0	63
100	Naples	8	5	0	63
101	Stetson	7	5	0	60
102	Owls Head	9	5	1	55
103	Stonington	6	5	0	48
104	Hollis	11	5	0	42
105	Exeter	8	5	0	25
106	Portland	10	4	0	136,945
107	Lewiston	9	4	0	23,720
108	South Paris	8	4	0	3,000
109	Van Buren	6	4	0	2,190
110	Northeast Harbor	7	4	0	1,603
111	Fort Kent	7	4	0	1,578
112	Dixfield	7	4	0	1,415
113	Limestone	6	4	0	875
114	Stratton	6	4	0	475
115	Skowhegan	9	4	0	350
116	Port Clyde	7	4	0	330
117	Monson	6	4	0	290
118	Grand Isle	7	4	0	278
119	Lamoine	8	4	1	265
120	North Ogden	8	4	0	133
121	New Gloucester	6	4	0	130
122	Embden	4	4	1	130
123	Burnham	10	4	0	105
124	Belmont	8	4	0	90
125	Oquossoc	10	4	0	88
126	Bucksport	9	4	0	68
127	Alton	7	4	0	65
128	Mapleton	6	4	0	62
129	Readfield	10	4	1	55
130	Leeds	8	4	1	50
131	Easton	6	4	0	50
132	Cumberland	9	4	0	45
133	Caswell	6	4	0	45
134	Pembroke	6	4	0	40
135	Monticello	7	4	0	33
136	Hodgdon	6	4	0	32
137	Saint Agatha	5	4	0	30
138	Orrs Island	6	4	0	25
139	Danforth	6	4	0	0
140	Surry	6	3	0	3,910
141	North Waterboro	5	3	0	3,500
142	Winthrop	6	3	0	2,593
143	Southwest Harbor	5	3	0	2,480
144	Lubec	6	3	0	1,775
145	Machias	7	3	0	1,470
146	Brunswick	6	3	0	1,190
147	Norridgewock	8	3	0	1,055
148	Farmington Hills	8	3	0	560
149	Princeton	8	3	0	535
150	Milbridge	6	3	0	405
151	Harrington	5	3	0	333
152	Atkinson	5	3	0	300
153	Andover	4	3	0	283
154	Hancock	3	3	0	280
155	Brownville	5	3	0	253
156	New Sharon	6	3	0	245
157	Sparta	5	3	0	233
158	Kalispell	5	3	0	205
159	Greenwood	5	3	0	160
160	Freeport	4	3	0	150
161	Hollis Center	3	3	0	103
162	Barrington	5	3	0	100
163	St Francis	7	3	0	100
164	Carmel	7	3	0	100
165	Unity	6	3	0	88
166	South China	4	3	0	80
167	Durham	5	3	0	75
168	Castine	6	3	0	73
169	Hinckley	7	3	0	72
170	Candia	5	3	0	70
171	Columbia Falls	5	3	0	68
172	Bowdoin	5	3	0	63
173	New Sweden	4	3	0	60
174	Anson	7	3	0	55
175	Pittston	5	3	0	55
176	Forest Hills	6	3	0	53
177	Raymond	6	3	1	50
178	Dennysville	7	3	0	43
179	Buxton	7	3	0	36
180	North Berwick	3	3	0	0
181	South Thomaston	6	3	0	0
182	Friendship	6	3	0	0
183	Bar Harbor	7	2	0	4,125
184	Dover Foxcroft	7	2	0	2,390
185	Damariscotta	8	2	0	1,868
186	Pittsfield	5	2	0	1,125
187	Phillips	4	2	0	650
188	Solon	7	2	0	475
189	Turner	6	2	0	425
190	Lebanon	7	2	0	270
191	Farmington Falls	5	2	0	225
192	Shapleigh	5	2	0	210
193	Oakfield	4	2	0	123
194	Dresden	5	2	0	103
195	Stockton Springs	4	2	0	98
196	Greenbush	5	2	0	90
197	Hermon	3	2	0	75
198	Wells	7	2	0	73
199	Waldoboro	7	2	0	70
200	Auburn	5	2	0	68
201	Scarborough	3	2	0	65
202	Farmingdale	5	2	0	60
203	Lagrange	4	2	0	60
204	Tazewell	5	2	0	50
205	Dover-foxcroft	3	2	0	40
206	Guilford	4	2	0	25
207	Farmington	6	1	0	4,050
208	East Millinocket	5	1	0	2,125
209	Washburn	3	1	0	688
210	West Paris	4	1	0	605
211	Bath	2	1	0	146
212	Frenchville	3	1	0	143
213	Glenburn	5	1	0	140
214	Great Neck	4	1	0	138
215	Wales	3	1	0	40
216	St Agatha	5	1	0	30
217	Clinton	3	1	0	0
218	Strong	4	0	0	500
219	Bingham	2	0	0	300
220	East Machias	1	0	0	45
221	Weeks Mills	1	0	0	45
222	Casco	1	0	0	0

Recommended Filtration for Maine

Based on the most common contaminants found across Maine (Barium, Manganese, Nitrate), we recommend a reverse osmosis system or high-quality carbon block filter to remove disinfection byproducts and their precursors.

Echo RO System

Removes up to 99.9% of contaminants. The gold standard for drinking water in Maine homes.

View RO Systems

Echo Whole-Home Filter

Protect every tap in your home from chlorine, VOCs, and disinfection byproducts.

View Whole-Home Filters

Echo Hydrogen Water Flask

Once your water is clean, supercharge it with molecular hydrogen for antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits.

Shop Hydrogen Flask

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Maine tap water safe to drink?

Water quality varies significantly across Maine. Of the 222 cities analyzed, the average city has 5.1 contaminants above EWG health guidelines. The best water quality was found in Strong. We recommend checking your specific city's report for detailed information.

What city has the best water in Maine?

Based on our analysis, Strong has the fewest contaminants above EWG health guidelines in Maine, with 0 above guideline levels.

What city has the worst water in Maine?

Based on our analysis, Augusta has the most contaminants above EWG health guidelines in Maine, with 19 above guideline levels.

What's the best water filter for Maine residents?

For most Maine households, we recommend a reverse osmosis (RO) system for drinking water and a whole-home filter for showers and baths. The specific recommendation depends on your city's contaminant profile — check your city's report for personalized guidance.

National Water Quality Reports

Data sources: Environmental Working Group (EWG) Tap Water Database, U.S. EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)

Last updated: March 2026

Methodology: Contaminant levels are compared against both EPA legal limits (Maximum Contaminant Levels) and EWG health guidelines, which are often stricter and based on the latest scientific research.

Maine Water Quality Report (2026)