Maine Private Wells: Arsenic Testing Rates and What Maine CDC Recommends

A news report from The Maine Monitor says private wells are not covered by public water system rules, so testing, treatment and upkeep fall to the owner.

What the report says

As of 2023, 53% of Mainers on private well water had tested for arsenic, about the same as in 2014, when around 48% had tested (the report says the number has not moved much).
Maine CDC estimates that 1 in 10 wells has too much arsenic (the report gives no threshold).
Arsenic has no odor, taste or color, so only a lab test finds it.

Testing schedule attributed to Maine CDC

Every year: coliform bacteria, E. coli, nitrates and nitrites.
Every 3 to 5 years: arsenic, plus chloride, copper, fluoride, hardness, iron, lead, magnesium, manganese, pH, radon, sodium and uranium.
PFAS testing is usually done only when there is reason to believe a well may be contaminated.

Homeowners can order kits from accredited labs. The report also says state programs help lower-income homeowners test and treat wells; the program name (MaineHousing) was not confirmed in the fetched text, so treat it as Not verified:. We give no cost figures.

Not verified: this is a news report, not the Maine CDC page itself. The thresholds, current program rules and lab list were not opened. The article gives conflicting participation numbers for the program, so we omit them.

Not verified: pump or treatment choice. Select treatment equipment only after lab results and advice from a licensed professional.

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General information only. Not plumbing, legal or code advice. Confirm with a licensed professional and your local authority.