PFOA in Maine well water
In Maine, 19% of 3,567 tested private well samples exceeded the EPA limit for PFOA (4 ng/L).
PFOA is a forever chemical from firefighting foam, industrial discharge and consumer products. It builds up in the body and is linked to kidney and testicular cancer, high cholesterol, immune effects and low birth weight.
By county, from individual samples
Public monitoring samples against the EPA limit (4 ng/L); counties with at least 30 samples.
| County | Samples | Detected | Above EPA limit | Median | Highest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Somerset | 576 | 73% | 41% | 2.59 | 7,590 ng/L |
| Kennebec | 450 | 65% | 25% | 0.73 | 1,440 ng/L |
| Lincoln | 110 | 75% | 23% | 1 | 182 ng/L |
| Waldo | 401 | 50% | 20% | 0 | 5,830 ng/L |
| Penobscot | 294 | 51% | 18% | 0.265 | 493 ng/L |
| Knox | 36 | 56% | 14% | 0.368 | 140 ng/L |
| Washington | 36 | 36% | 14% | 0 | 58.2 ng/L |
| Cumberland | 574 | 61% | 12% | 0.447 | 121 ng/L |
| Hancock | 58 | 53% | 12% | 0.348 | 16.7 ng/L |
| Aroostook | 113 | 36% | 12% | 0 | 44.8 ng/L |
| Piscataquis | 30 | 40% | 10% | 0 | 9.08 ng/L |
| York | 386 | 58% | 9% | 0.347 | 110 ng/L |
| Franklin | 44 | 43% | 7% | 0 | 20.3 ng/L |
| Sagadahoc | 171 | 47% | 6% | 0 | 54.2 ng/L |
| Androscoggin | 215 | 47% | 5% | 0 | 13.7 ng/L |
- Benton, Kennebec County66% of 56
- Damariscotta, Lincoln County54% of 35
- Fairfield, Somerset County47% of 466
- Jackson, Waldo County45% of 31
- Sidney, Kennebec County40% of 43
- Chelsea, Kennebec County28% of 46
- Corinna, Penobscot County27% of 44
- Brewer, Penobscot County24% of 33
- Unity, Waldo County24% of 89
- Vassalboro, Kennebec County21% of 34
- Skowhegan, Somerset County19% of 31
- Falmouth, Cumberland County18% of 72
- Knox, Waldo County17% of 58
- Buxton, York County15% of 60
- Eliot, York County14% of 35
- Gorham, Cumberland County14% of 79
- Albion, Kennebec County14% of 118
- Topsham, Sagadahoc County11% of 38
- Windham, Cumberland County10% of 40
- Gray, Cumberland County10% of 31
Sources
- Individual samples from the USGS Water Quality Portal and state monitoring, summarized per geography. PFOA counts and shares are listed on each county and town page with their sources.