Lead Contamination

Lead in Maine Drinking Water

Ranked by 90th percentile lead level (ppb) · Data from EPA SDWIS & UCMR

166

Cities Tested

Exceeds Limit

% Exceeds Limit

2.4 ppb

State Avg

▼ 2% vs national

vs National

141

Health Violations

Analysis

Lead in Maine: what the data shows

Maine has 166 cities with lead monitoring data, with no cities exceeding the EPA action level of 15 ppb. The state average 90th percentile lead level is 2.4 ppb, compared to 3.3 ppb nationally — better than the national average. No cities in Maine currently exceed the 15 ppb lead action level. However, even levels below the action level can pose health risks, particularly for infants and young children. If your home was built before 1986, consider testing your tap water directly. The 90th percentile measurement means that 90% of tap samples in a city are at or below the reported level. This is the standard EPA uses under the Lead and Copper Rule to determine if a water system needs to take corrective action. An NSF 53-certified pitcher or under-sink filter can effectively remove lead at the tap.

Comparison

Cities exceeding 15 ppb EPA Action Level

Maine

0 of 166 cities

← ▼ 2% below national rate (better)

National avg

378 of 15681 cities

City Map

Lead data across Maine

Each dot is a city, colored by overall water quality grade. Cities with lead levels above the 15 ppb EPA action level are highlighted. Size reflects population served.

Worst Offenders

Top 10 cities by lead level in Maine

Highest Lead levels (ppb)

All Cities

All Maine cities ranked by lead level

#	City	Level	Exceeds?	Violations	Grade
1	Livermore	12.3 ppb	No	2	B-
2	North Yarmouth	9.5 ppb	No	7	B+
3	North Yarmouth	9.5 ppb	No	7	B+
4	Bangor	7.5 ppb	No	7	B
5	Bangor	7.5 ppb	No	5	B+
6	Bangor	7.5 ppb	No	5	B+
7	Bangor	7.5 ppb	No	2	B+
8	Bangor	7.5 ppb	No	3	B
9	Bangor	7.5 ppb	No	1	B+
10	Jay	7.1 ppb	No	9	C+
11	Bucksport	6.7 ppb	No	8	C-
12	Old Town	6.3 ppb	No	1	A-
13	Waterboro	6.3 ppb	No	10	B
14	Limerick	6.3 ppb	No	9	B
15	Auburn	6.2 ppb	No	8	B+
16	Scarborough	5.9 ppb	No	12	C-
17	Scarborough	5.8 ppb	No	5	B-
18	Jackman	5.6 ppb	No	47	B
19	Bath	5.3 ppb	No	9	A-
20	Milo	5.1 ppb	No	59	B
21	Wilton	4.9 ppb	No	0	B+
22	Bethel	4.9 ppb	No	0	B
23	Camden	4.5 ppb	No	4	A-
24	Camden	4.5 ppb	No	11	B
25	Camden	4.5 ppb	No	9	B-
26	Camden	4.5 ppb	No	4	C
27	Camden	4.5 ppb	No	4	A-
28	Camden	4.5 ppb	No	4	A-
29	Anson	4.3 ppb	No	34	B
30	Anson	4.3 ppb	No	34	B
31	Anson	4.3 ppb	No	34	B
32	Bowdoinham	4.3 ppb	No	1	A
33	Ellsworth	4.0 ppb	No	14	B
34	North Berwick	4.0 ppb	No	2	B-
35	Eagle Lake	4.0 ppb	No	40	B+
36	Dexter	3.8 ppb	No	4	B+
37	Rumford	3.7 ppb	No	0	B+
38	Baileyville	3.7 ppb	No	5	A
39	Bingham	3.5 ppb	No	8	B-
40	Bingham	3.5 ppb	No	5	B+
41	Gardiner	3.4 ppb	No	3	B-
42	Skowhegan	3.4 ppb	No	4	B-
43	Houlton	3.4 ppb	No	5	C
44	Bar Harbor	3.4 ppb	No	2	A-
45	Norway	3.4 ppb	No	0	A+
46	Mars Hill	3.4 ppb	No	58	D+
47	Bath	3.2 ppb	No	8	A
48	Alfred	3.0 ppb	No	6	B-
49	Carrabassett Vl	3.0 ppb	No	14	C+
50	Northport	3.0 ppb	No	4	B+
51	Scarborough	2.8 ppb	No	7	B
52	Bangor	2.8 ppb	No	5	C+
53	Clifton	2.8 ppb	No	26	F
54	Millinocket	2.8 ppb	No	3	A+
55	Bridgton	2.8 ppb	No	5	D
56	East Millinocket	2.8 ppb	No	4	A
57	Van Buren	2.7 ppb	No	0	A
58	West Paris	2.6 ppb	No	8	C+
59	Strong	2.6 ppb	No	0	A-
60	Abbot	2.5 ppb	No	17	B-
61	Abbot	2.5 ppb	No	3	B+
62	Abbot	2.5 ppb	No	3	B+
63	Abbot	2.5 ppb	No	3	B+
64	Mount Desert	2.5 ppb	No	19	B-
65	Calais	2.4 ppb	No	4	A-
66	Bath	2.3 ppb	No	14	A-
67	Gray	2.3 ppb	No	2	B-
68	Ashland	2.3 ppb	No	20	A-
69	Caribou	2.2 ppb	No	26	C
70	Oxford	2.2 ppb	No	1	A
71	Paris	2.1 ppb	No	6	A-
72	Southwest Hbr	2.1 ppb	No	60	B-
73	Waterville	2.0 ppb	No	6	B-
74	Kittery	2.0 ppb	No	1	A
75	York	2.0 ppb	No	0	A+
76	Hallowell	2.0 ppb	No	0	A+
77	Washburn	2.0 ppb	No	2	B+
78	Scarborough	1.9 ppb	No	0	A
79	Scarborough	1.9 ppb	No	0	A
80	Scarborough	1.9 ppb	No	0	A
81	Scarborough	1.9 ppb	No	0	A
82	Scarborough	1.9 ppb	No	0	A
83	Scarborough	1.9 ppb	No	0	A
84	Sandy River Plt	1.9 ppb	No	5	A-
85	Sandy River Plt	1.9 ppb	No	5	A-
86	Sandy River Plt	1.9 ppb	No	5	A-
87	Sandy River Plt	1.9 ppb	No	5	A-
88	Howland	1.9 ppb	No	0	A
89	Waterville	1.9 ppb	No	1	B
90	Waterville	1.9 ppb	No	1	B
91	Norridgewock	1.9 ppb	No	6	A
92	Pittsfield	1.8 ppb	No	4	B+
93	Fort Fairfield	1.8 ppb	No	10	B+
94	Lisbon	1.6 ppb	No	3	A-
95	Richmond	1.6 ppb	No	11	A
96	Hartland	1.6 ppb	No	33	A-
97	Fryeburg	1.5 ppb	No	3	A-
98	Limestone	1.5 ppb	No	95	D
99	Vinalhaven	1.5 ppb	No	36	C+
100	Brownville	1.5 ppb	No	10	C
101	Monmouth	1.5 ppb	No	2	B+
102	Mexico	1.4 ppb	No	0	A-
103	Cornish	1.4 ppb	No	0	A
104	Winter Harbor	1.4 ppb	No	3	A-
105	Newport	1.3 ppb	No	54	B+
106	Kingfield	1.3 ppb	No	4	B+
107	Stonington	1.3 ppb	No	39	B-
108	Damariscotta	1.2 ppb	No	33	B-
109	Damariscotta	1.2 ppb	No	27	B+
110	Waterville	1.1 ppb	No	8	C
111	Augusta	1.1 ppb	No	15	B+
112	Augusta	1.1 ppb	No	8	B+
113	Augusta	1.1 ppb	No	7	B+
114	Augusta	1.1 ppb	No	1	A-
115	Fort Kent	1.1 ppb	No	4	C+
116	Harrison	1.1 ppb	No	1	B+
117	Kennebunkport	1.0 ppb	No	1	A
118	Kennebunkport	1.0 ppb	No	1	A
119	Sanford	1.0 ppb	No	16	B-
120	Lincoln	1.0 ppb	No	4	A
121	Mechanic Falls	0.8 ppb	No	0	B+
122	Lubec	0.8 ppb	No	6	B+
123	Eastport	0.8 ppb	No	42	B
124	Eastport	0.8 ppb	No	42	B
125	Scarborough	0.7 ppb	No	0	B
126	North Haven	0.6 ppb	No	58	B
127	Avon	0.6 ppb	No	22	A-
128	Avon	0.6 ppb	No	22	A-
129	Winterport	0.5 ppb	No	0	A-
130	Clinton	0.5 ppb	No	1	B+
131	Charleston	0.5 ppb	No	4	B
132	Topsham	0.4 ppb	No	17	C+
133	Scarborough	0.0 ppb	No	26	C
134	Saco	0.0 ppb	No	1	A
135	Saco	0.0 ppb	No	1	A
136	Kennebunkport	0.0 ppb	No	12	D+
137	Topsham	0.0 ppb	No	12	A-
138	Lewiston	0.0 ppb	No	5	A-
139	Waterville	0.0 ppb	No	8	F
140	Bath	0.0 ppb	No	19	B-
141	Clifton	0.0 ppb	No	5	A-
142	Boothbay	0.0 ppb	No	3	A-
143	Presque Isle	0.0 ppb	No	24	C+
144	South Berwick	0.0 ppb	No	31	B+
145	Orono	0.0 ppb	No	12	B-
146	Northport	0.0 ppb	No	9	B-
147	Farmington	0.0 ppb	No	1	B
148	South Berwick	0.0 ppb	No	11	B+
149	Freeport	0.0 ppb	No	13	A-
150	Searsport	0.0 ppb	No	0	A+
151	Madawaska	0.0 ppb	No	7	A
152	Dover-Foxcroft	0.0 ppb	No	0	A
153	Sabattus	0.0 ppb	No	7	A
154	Machias	0.0 ppb	No	0	B+
155	Dixfield	0.0 ppb	No	8	A-
156	Greenville	0.0 ppb	No	2	A
157	Waldoboro	0.0 ppb	No	11	B-
158	Castine	0.0 ppb	No	10	C+
159	Parsonsfield	0.0 ppb	No	0	A
160	Parsonsfield	0.0 ppb	No	0	A
161	Parsonsfield	0.0 ppb	No	0	A
162	Salem	0.0 ppb	No	0	A+
163	St George	0.0 ppb	No	1	B+
164	Princeton	0.0 ppb	No	34	D
165	Princeton	0.0 ppb	No	4	B
166	Hancock	0.0 ppb	No	30	D

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about lead in Maine

Is lead in Maine tap water a concern?

Currently, no cities in Maine exceed the 15 ppb EPA lead action level. The state average is 2.4 ppb. Even below the action level, lead poses health risks especially for children and pregnant women. If your home was built before 1986, consider testing your tap water directly.

How can I reduce lead exposure from Maine tap water?

Use an NSF 53-certified water filter, which is specifically certified to reduce lead. Run your cold tap for 30 seconds before drinking or cooking, especially if water has been sitting in pipes for hours. Never use hot tap water for cooking or making baby formula, as heat increases lead leaching from pipes.

Which Maine cities have the highest lead levels?

The cities with the highest 90th percentile lead levels in Maine are: Livermore (12.3 ppb), North Yarmouth (9.5 ppb), North Yarmouth (9.5 ppb), Bangor (7.5 ppb), Bangor (7.5 ppb). See the full ranked table above.

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