Drinking Water

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, so it is naturally one of most common reasons for water treatment Iron manifests itself in two forms: Ferric Iron (suspended solid, visible in water) and Ferrous Iron (dissolved solid, colorless until exposed to air)	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 substance in toilet tanks Can impart unpleasant taste, often bitter or metallic in taste Higher levels have been linked to impulse control & short fuse response in children
Hardness	Degree of Water Hardness Expressed as GPG Soft: 0-3.5 gpg Moderately Hard: 3.5-7.0 gpg Hard: 7.0-10.5 gpg Very Hard: 10.5 gpg + Expressed as mg/l Soft: 0-59.85 mg/l Moderately Hard: 59.85-119.70 mg/l Hard: 119.70-179.50 mg/l Very Hard: 179.050 + 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, boilers, and other appliances; and can boosts heating bills by as much as 20% Unsightly film or scum in tub & other fixtures; usage of more soap is required to clean; Build up on skin & hair; can cause dry skin, brittle hair, skin irritation & clogged pores Graying of whites or loss of brightness in colored laundry; can cut back life cycle of clothing by 35% Calcium & Magnesium will be absorbed by foods cooked in water & foods are more likely to shrink & become tough
Chloride	None per State of Maine 250 mg/L per National Secondary Drinking Water Regulations recommendation	Possible salt intrusion from sea water or naturally occurring deposits in bedrock	Salty taste Well close to road and salts from plowing roads leaching into well water
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, nasal passage, liver and prostate cancer Recent studies in school-age children have reported association between neurological behavior functions and exposure to arsenic via drinking water
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 is linked to stomach, liver and brain cancer Chemically damages your DNA In Maine about 25% of lung cancer deaths have been linked to homes with radon gas in the well water Up to 1/3 of all wells in Maine have radon gas of over 4000 pCi/L 10,000 pCi/L of radon gas in water = 1 pCi/L in air
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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Water Safety in Midcoast Maine

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