01The verdict: is North Haven water safe?
North Haven's tap water meets most EPA standards but has areas that warrant attention. With a grade of B (77.1/100), some contaminant levels or compliance issues suggest that residents may benefit from additional filtration. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 740 residents using surface water (rivers, lakes, or reservoirs).
Copper is over its legal limit
Measured at 1.40 mg/L against the EPA Action Level of 1.3 mg/L. The ledger below shows how far over — and which filter removes it.
See the measurement ↓Lead is well under the limit
90th-percentile lead is 0.6 ppb — beneath the 15 ppb federal action level and under the 5 ppb watch threshold.
See the trend ↓A flood-prone service area
10 federal disaster declarations on record. After severe weather, watch for boil-water advisories.
See the risk factors ↓North Haven's drinking water received a grade of B (77.1 out of 100), indicating good water quality. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 740 residents using surface water.
Lead levels were measured at 0.6 ppb (90th percentile), well within EPA limits. This system has not yet been tested for PFAS under the EPA UCMR 5 program. The system has 171 violations on record, including 58 health-based violations. 2 remain unresolved.
North Haven ranks #115 out of 156 cities in Maine for water quality, placing it below average in the state. The city draws from surface water sources, which are more susceptible to seasonal runoff and agricultural contamination, requiring extensive multi-barrier treatment including coagulation, filtration, and disinfection. As a small community water system, North Haven may have fewer resources for advanced treatment technologies and infrastructure upgrades compared to larger utilities.
02What's in North Haven's water
Every contaminant flagged in North Haven, on one shared scale: distance to its own legal limit. The red line is the limit — anything past it is out of compliance, and the closer a bar gets, the less headroom the system has.
Over Limit — EPA Action Level: 1.3 mg/L
Exceeds the EPA action level. Copper leaches from household plumbing — flush taps for 30 seconds before drinking, and consider a certified filter.Full contaminants report
| Contaminant | Detected Level | EPA Limit | Unit | Category | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lead (90th percentile) LeadHeavy Metal A toxic heavy metal that can leach into drinking water from older pipes, solder, and fixtures. No amount of lead in water is considered safe. Health EffectsBrain and nervous system damage in children, kidney damage, high blood pressure, and reproductive problems in adults. EPA Limit15 ppb action level Common SourcesCorrosion of lead pipes, lead solder, brass faucets, and household plumbing. | 0.6 | 15 | ppb | Inorganic | Safe |
| Copper (90th percentile) CopperInorganic A metal that enters drinking water mainly through corrosion of copper plumbing. Small amounts are essential for health, but excess levels are harmful. Health EffectsGastrointestinal distress (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea) at short-term high levels; liver and kidney damage from long-term exposure. EPA Limit1.3 mg/L action level Common SourcesCorrosion of copper household plumbing, erosion of natural deposits. | 1.40 | 1.3 | mg/L | Inorganic | Over Limit |
Cities ranked by 90th-percentile lead PF PFAS in Maine
Cities ranked by compounds detected Cu Copper in Maine
Cities ranked by 90th-percentile copper
03North Haven's ten-year track record
Each box is one year. A green check means no EPA violations; a numbered badge counts that year's violations — red if any were health-based, amber if they were monitoring or paperwork issues. The system has 171 violations on record, including 58 health-based violations. 2 remain unresolved.
9 of the last ten years were clean. The numbered years had EPA violations — red when any were health-based, amber when they were paperwork or missed-testing issues.
▼ Down 38 ppb since 1993. Latest reading: 0.64 ppb (2025) — 4% of the action level. Sampled at higher-risk homes (90th percentile).
▼ Down 0.26 mg/L since 1993. The latest reading (1.4 mg/L, 2023) is over the action level. Sampled at higher-risk homes (90th percentile).
04Where North Haven's water comes from
North Haven's drinking water comes primarily from surface water sources such as rivers, lakes, or reservoirs.
Surface Water
Rivers, lakes, or reservoirs — more exposed to runoff, agriculture, and seasonal swings than groundwater.
Local treatment
Multi-barrier treatment: coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection to meet EPA standards.
1 system
1 water system, operated under local government ownership.
740 people
Residents served across North Haven's service area.
Surface water systems require multi-stage treatment including coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection to meet EPA Safe Drinking Water Act standards. These sources can be impacted by seasonal changes, stormwater runoff, upstream agriculture, and industrial discharge. The system is operated by local government ownership and serves approximately 740 people through 1 water system.
| System name | PWSID | Population | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| NORTH HAVEN WATER DEPARTMENT | ME0091130 | 740 | Surface Water |
05Pressure on North Haven's watershed
Outside forces that shape what reaches the treatment plant. None of these is a verdict on the tap by itself — but each adds pressure worth knowing about.
Flood & storm history
10 federal disaster declarations on record for Knox County. Flooding and severe storms can overwhelm treatment plants, cause sewage overflows, and push runoff into supplies.
06How North Haven compares
Scores for nearby Maine cities on one line, with the average marked.
dashed line = Maine average (85/100)
North Haven scores 77.1/100 — below the Maine average of 85/100. It outscores 3 of 10 nearby cities. Full Maine rankings →
93.8 / 100ACumberland, ME
93.8 / 100AFalmouth, ME
92.8 / 100APortland, ME
93.2 / 100CRaymond, ME
55.9 / 100CScarborough, ME
63.8 / 100
Compare all cities in the county — grades, violations, and contaminant data side by side.→
07What to do at home
Steps matched to what testing actually found in North Haven's water — not generic advice.
Filter drinking & cooking water
Basic carbon filter for extra protection. Copper exceeds the EPA action level of 1.3 mg/L
Compare tested filters →Read your utility's annual report
Every utility must publish a yearly Consumer Confidence Report with its own testing results. It pairs well with the independent data on this page.
How to read a CCR →Watch for North Haven alerts
This area has a history of flood declarations — after severe weather, watch for boil-water advisories from the utility, and check the live alerts on this page.
All water alerts →Frequently asked questions
Is North Haven, ME tap water safe to drink?
North Haven's water quality earned a grade of B (77.1/100). Some concerns have been identified. Consider a water filter for an extra layer of protection. The city ranks #115 out of 156 cities tested in Maine.
What contaminants are in North Haven's water?
Lead was measured at 0.6 ppb (90th percentile). 171 violations are on record.
How is North Haven's water quality grade calculated?
The grade is based on four factors: violation history (40%), lead and copper levels (25%), PFAS contamination (25%), and regulatory compliance (10%). The score is also adjusted based on how complete the available data is. See our methodology page for full details.
Do I need a water filter in North Haven?
Based on current data, basic filtration should suffice for additional peace of mind.
Where does North Haven's water come from?
North Haven's water is sourced from Surface water. The city has 1 water system serving approximately 740 residents.
What health violations has North Haven's water system had?
North Haven has 58 health-based violations on record. The most recent violation was recorded in January 2017. Health-based violations mean the water exceeded EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for a regulated substance. 2 violations remain unresolved.
How does North Haven's water compare to other cities?
North Haven ranks #115 out of 156 cities in Maine (better than 26% of state cities) and #9008 out of 15382 cities nationally (41th percentile). The grade of B reflects the combined assessment of violation history, lead and copper levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.
Does North Haven's small water system affect quality?
North Haven's system serves approximately 740 residents. Small community water systems (under 3,300 people) may have fewer financial resources for infrastructure upgrades and advanced treatment technologies. However, they are held to the same EPA drinking water standards as larger systems. This system has 171 violations on record.