PFHxS in Maine well water
In Maine, 1% of 3,562 tested private well samples exceeded the EPA limit for PFHxS (10 ng/L).
PFHxS comes mainly from firefighting foam and persists in the body longer than most PFAS. It is linked to thyroid and immune effects. Wells near airports, fire stations and training grounds are most at risk.
By county, from individual samples
Public monitoring samples against the EPA limit (10 ng/L); counties with at least 30 samples.
| County | Samples | Detected | Above EPA limit | Median | Highest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | 36 | 25% | 6% | 0 | 123 ng/L |
| Franklin | 44 | 16% | 5% | 0 | 22.4 ng/L |
| Somerset | 575 | 36% | 2% | 0 | 489 ng/L |
| Oxford | 72 | 18% | 1% | 0 | 12 ng/L |
| Penobscot | 294 | 26% | 1% | 0 | 54.6 ng/L |
| Sagadahoc | 170 | 22% | 1% | 0 | 11.7 ng/L |
| York | 385 | 36% | 1% | 0 | 31.2 ng/L |
| Lincoln | 110 | 35% | <1% | 0 | 22.2 ng/L |
| Aroostook | 113 | 23% | <1% | 0 | 10.4 ng/L |
| Waldo | 401 | 18% | <1% | 0 | 44 ng/L |
| Cumberland | 573 | 43% | <1% | 0 | 24 ng/L |
| Kennebec | 450 | 27% | <1% | 0 | 19 ng/L |
| Androscoggin | 215 | 22% | <1% | 0 | 19.7 ng/L |
| Knox | 36 | 36% | 0% | 0 | 7.02 ng/L |
| Hancock | 58 | 14% | 0% | 0 | 1.04 ng/L |
- Eliot, York County9% of 35
- Vassalboro, Kennebec County6% of 34
- Topsham, Sagadahoc County5% of 38
- Jackson, Waldo County3% of 31
- Brewer, Penobscot County3% of 33
- Fairfield, Somerset County3% of 466
- Falmouth, Cumberland County3% of 72
- Chelsea, Kennebec County2% of 46
- Wells, York County2% of 63
- Unity, Waldo County1% of 89
- North Yarmouth, Cumberland County0% of 45
- Damariscotta, Lincoln County0% of 35
- Gorham, Cumberland County0% of 79
- Dayton, York County0% of 56
- Windham, Cumberland County0% of 40
- Cumberland, Cumberland County0% of 31
- Benton, Kennebec County0% of 56
- Freeport, Cumberland County0% of 107
- Buxton, York County0% of 60
- Sidney, Kennebec County0% of 43
Sources
- Individual samples from the USGS Water Quality Portal and state monitoring, summarized per geography. PFHxS counts and shares are listed on each county and town page with their sources.