Water Safety in Midcoast Maine
AGENT | ACCEPTABLE or SAFE LIMITS | SOURCES | EFFECTS |
Total coliform bacteria | Less than 1/100 ml | Bacteria usually from environment such as soil, vegetation, etc. |
May cause diarrhea & vomiting |
E.coli bacteria | Less than 1/100 ml | Also known as enterococci, typically from feces |
May cause diarrhea & vomiting |
Nitrate-N | Less than 10 mg/L | Runoff from fertilizer use, leaching from septic tanks, sewage, erosion of natural deposits |
May cause infant blood problems |
Nitrite-N | Less than 1 mg/L | Runoff from fertilizer use, leaching from septic tanks, sewage, erosion of natural deposits |
May cause infant blood problems |
pH | 6.5-8.5 | Measures the acidity or alkalinity, pH scale ranges from 0-14 with 7 being neutral
Below 7 is considered acidic and above 7 is considered alkaline Naturally rain water is 5.5 on the pH scale Most water in Maine is below 7 on the pH scale |
Strongly acidic or alkaline water is corrosive and can dissolve toxic materials from plumbing (such as copper piping or lead soldering on piping) that can cause health concerns
Acidic water dissolves copper leaving a tell-tale blue or green staining on fixtures Corrosive nature can lead to costly repair or replacement of plumbing system Acidic and alkaline water can have an adverse effect on water treatment systems |
Turbidity | Less than 5 NTU | Small particles of solid matter, possibly from soil runoff |
Water can appear opaque or cloudy
Sand or lead shavings could be in your water May cause plumbing, hot water tanks, etc. to plug up |
Copper | Less than 1.3 mg/L | Natural deposits or corrosion of household plumbing |
Short term exposure: Gastrointestinal distress
Long term exposure: liver or kidney damage |
Iron | Less than 0.3 mg/L | Natural deposits
Over 25% of Earth’s crust is iron, Iron manifests itself in two forms: |
Water may appear colored, ranging from light yellow to bright orange
Stains fixtures and/or clothes Can impart unpleasant taste, often bitter or metallic in taste Will build up in plumbing, sometimes to the point of completely blocking pipes |
Manganese | Less than 0.05 mg/L | Natural deposits
A relative of iron |
Black or brown staining of fixtures
Perhaps black-brown string or yarn-like Can impart unpleasant taste, often bitter or Higher levels have been linked to impulse |
Hardness | Degree of Water Hardness
Expressed as GPG Expressed as mg/l |
Based on the amount of dissolved calcium and magnesium present in water |
Can create scales in cold water piping
Heated hard water can build up in water heaters, Unsightly film or scum in tub & other fixtures; usage Build up on skin & hair; can cause dry skin, brittle hair, Graying of whites or loss of brightness in colored laundry; Calcium & Magnesium will be absorbed by foods cooked |
Chloride | None per State of Maine
250 mg/L per National Secondary |
Possible salt intrusion from sea water or naturally occurring deposits in bedrock |
Salty taste
Well close to road and salts from plowing roads |
Arsenic | Less than 10 ug/L | Natural deposits or from manufacturing or herbicides |
May cause cancer/low birth weight
May cause bladder, lung, skin, kidney, Recent studies in school-age children have |
Lead | Less than 15 ug/L | Corrosion of household plumbing or solder, erosion of natural deposits, brass alloy fixtures |
May cause brain damage
Delay in physical or mental development in children May cause high blood pressure, kidney problems in adults |
Sodium | Less than 120 mg/L | Metallic element naturally found and highly soluble |
Possible salt intrusion from sea water or naturally occurring deposits in bedrock
Salt runoff from plowing roads may be leaching into well water (if well is close to road) |
Uranium | Less than 30 ug/L | Natural deposits | May cause kidney problems
May effect kidneys & blood pressure Cancer risk is raised Test for radon if uranium is present |
Radon | Less than 4000 pCi/L | Natural deposits
Radon is a gas |
May cause cancer
Radon Gas causes lung cancer and Chemically damages your DNA In Maine about 25% of lung cancer deaths Up to 1/3 of all wells in Maine have radon gas |
Tannins | None | Comes from vegetation | As little as .02 and will notice tea colored water Causes staining and/or build up on fixtures & in plumbing |
Fluoride | Between 0.6 mg/L and 1.7 mg/L | Natural deposits | If too little, increased chance of tooth decay and if too much, stained teeth |
Sulfur | None | Hydrogen sulfide gas | Water will smell like rotten eggs
Odor will be evident at levels as low as 0.5 mg/L |
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46 Farwell Dr, Rockland, ME 04841 (Off Route 90) | (800) 244-4947