Portland
Portland, ME water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
portland water district-greater
surface water (rivers/reservoirs) · local government · PWSID ME0091300
Below EPA's 15 ppb lead action level at last testing.
Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) · 2026 Q1
With about 66,881 residents, Portland ranks as the largest city in Maine and a small but growing city. Water in Portland is sourced chiefly from rivers, lakes, and groundwater, the backbone of Maine's supply.
The defining water pressure here mirrors the state's: pfas contamination. Maine has been a national focal point for PFAS contamination, particularly on farmland spread with biosolids.
Statewide, Maine recycles about 3% of its wastewater with minimal reuse programs. Locally, Portland faces abnormally dry to moderate drought conditions.
The Maine state profile covers the regional supply outlook; the issues below detail what's driving Portland's water future.
Cumberland County water quality
Source: EPA SDWIS · 2026 Q1
At a glance
- Population ~66,881 (largest in Maine)
- Primary sources: rivers, lakes, and groundwater
- Drought: abnormally dry to moderate conditions
- State reuse rate: ~3% of wastewater
Statewide drought history
% of Maine in severe+ drought (Moderate (D1) now).
Source: U.S. Drought Monitor
Common questions
Is tap water safe in Portland?
Portland's largest water system, PORTLAND WATER DISTRICT-GREATER, serves about 135,068 people. EPA records show 0 health-based violation(s) since 2016 and a most-recent 90th-percentile lead level of 1.9 ppb (EPA action level is 15 ppb). Always check your own provider's annual Consumer Confidence Report.
Where does Portland get its water?
PORTLAND WATER DISTRICT-GREATER draws primarily from surface water (rivers/reservoirs), part of Maine's supply from rivers, lakes, groundwater.
Related water issues
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.
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