Maine
Maine sits in the Northeast and draws its water primarily from rivers, lakes, and groundwater. With roughly 1.39 million residents, the state has minimal formal water reuse to date, reusing an estimated 3% of its treated wastewater.
Mainewater quality & safety
Top violation drivers in Maine
| Contaminant / rule | Systems |
|---|---|
| Lead and Copper Rule | 28 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | 20 |
| TTHM | 16 |
| Arsenic | 11 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 10 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | 4 |
Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) · 2026 Q1 · health-based violations since 2016
Maine has been a national focal point for PFAS contamination, particularly on farmland spread with biosolids.
On the U.S. Drought Monitor scale, Maine currently tracks around abnormally dry to moderate conditions. Maine has 359 community water systems serving about 1 million people; EPA records show 81 of them (22.6%) with a health-based Safe Drinking Water Act violation since 2016. The pages below break down the water issues that matter most here and the communities working on solutions.
Drought history — severe+ extent
% of Maine in severe drought or worse (D2+) each late summer.
Source: U.S. Drought Monitor (NDMC/UNL, USDA, NOAA) · latest 2026-06-09
Water use (USGS 2015)
- Per-capita (public supply)
- 127 gpcd
- Total withdrawals
- 0.5 Bgal/d
- From groundwater
- 22%
- Irrigation share
- 3.7%
- Wastewater reused (est.)
- ~3%
Primary water sources
- ≈ rivers
- ≈ lakes
- ≈ groundwater
Common questions
Is tap water safe in Maine?
Maine has 359 community water systems serving about 1 million people. EPA records show 81 of them (22.6%) with at least one health-based Safe Drinking Water Act violation since 2016, and 3 system(s) over the federal lead action level. Most large systems meet standards; check your specific city and your utility's annual report.
What contaminants are most common in Maine's water?
The most frequent health-based violations involve Lead and Copper Rule, Revised Total Coliform Rule, TTHM.
How much water does Maine use per person?
Public water systems in Maine withdraw about 127 gallons per person per day (USGS 2015), drawing 22% of fresh water from groundwater.
How bad is the drought in Maine?
As of 2026-06-09, 34.8% of Maine is in drought (D1+) and 0.5% is in severe drought or worse, per the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Cities in Maine
6 trackedPortland
Portland, ME water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Lewiston
Lewiston, ME water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Bangor
Bangor, ME water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
West Scarborough
West Scarborough, ME water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
South Portland
South Portland, ME water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
South Portland Gardens
South Portland Gardens, ME water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Key issues in Maine
PFAS Contamination
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances persist in water supplies for decades. New federal limits are forcing utilities nationwide to invest in advanced treatment.
ExploreAging Infrastructure
Much of America's water infrastructure is decades past its design life, leaking trillions of gallons a year and demanding hundreds of billions in reinvestment.
Explore