Well water in Readfield, Maine
In Readfield, 42% of 334 private wells tested had arsenic above the Maine guideline (10 ug/L), according to Maine CDC.
334 private wells tested in state summaries; 17 individual samples from 9 wells, 1966 to 2022. Data refreshed September 3, 2026.
Maine DEP samples private wells near fields where sludge or septage was spread and near other known PFAS sources, and resamples detections. PFAS shares describe wells that were tested for a reason, not every well in the area.
What homeowner tests found
Maine Tracking Network private well summaries: private wells tested and reported to the state. Shares are against the level the state applies to each contaminant, named in the last column; several are stricter than EPA.
What individual samples found
Each row summarizes every public sample for that contaminant inside Readfield. Above limit means above the EPA maximum contaminant level; where EPA has no enforceable limit, the row shows a health guideline or nuisance level instead.
| Contaminant | Samples | Detected | Above limit | Median | Highest | Limit | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenic 2000 to 2011 | 17 | 100% | 100% | 38 | 280 | 10 ug/L EPA limit | |
| Nitrate 1966 to 2011 | 12 | 33% | 0% | 0 | 1.3 | 10 mg/L EPA limit |
Sampled fewer than 10 times, too few to summarize: PFOA (5), Uranium (9), PFHxS (5), PFOS (5), PFNA (5), Radium (226 + 228) (2), E. coli (2), Lead (2), Copper (2), Chloride (3), Iron (1), Radon (1).
Get the free Readfield well report
One email with the numbers above, what they mean for a home in Readfield, exactly which tests to order, and what treatment fits the local profile. No spam, unsubscribe in one click.
What this means
Among homeowners in Readfield who sent a sample to the state lab, the health-based limits most often exceeded were arsenic (42% of 334 wells), fluoride (3% of 320 wells), and nitrate (<1% of 326 wells). These are ordinary wells tested by their owners, so the shares are the best available picture of a typical well here, with one caveat: people test more often when they suspect a problem.
What to test for in Readfield
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)8 leaking underground storage tank sites on record locally.
- PFAS1 unlined landfill on record locally.
- Metals panel2 hazardous waste sites on record locally.
- Fluoride3% of 320 local wells tested were above the Maine guideline.
- Manganese1% of 291 local wells tested were above the Maine guideline.
- Nitrate<1% of 326 local wells tested were above the Maine guideline.
- Coliform bacteriaRecommended for every private well, every year.
- RadonMedian local reading is 2,590 pCi/L.
- PFOAAbove the limit in 1 of 5 local samples; too few to quote a rate.
- ChlorideDetected in 100% of local samples.
- IronDetected in 100% of local samples.
Wells in Readfield
268 domestic wells in Readfield are on record with the state since 1970. 97% are drilled into bedrock, and the typical well is 240 feet deep (one in ten goes past 420 feet).
In a typical Readfield well, bedrock starts about 28 feet down, the median yield is 6 gallons per minute, 20% of wells yield under 3 gallons per minute and usually need a storage tank.
Bedrock wells are where arsenic, uranium and radon come from: the water sits in fractures in granite and metamorphic rock and picks up whatever the rock carries. That is why testing for those three matters more here than in a dug or gravel well.
Contamination sources on record in Readfield
Maine DEP records 8 leaking underground storage tank sites, 1 unlined landfill, and 2 hazardous waste sites in Readfield, among 13 regulated sites in total. Groundwater does not follow property lines, so a well within a few hundred feet of one of these is worth testing for what that site could release.
- 8
- leaking underground storage tank sitesGasoline and heating oil that leaked from tanks move through groundwater as benzene, MTBE and other volatile organic compounds.
- 1
- unlined landfillOlder unlined landfills are a leading source of PFAS, VOCs and metals in nearby wells.
- 2
- hazardous waste sitesSolvents, degreasers and metals from industrial sites can travel far in fractured bedrock.
- 2
- other remediation projects
Treatment that fits the local profile
- Arsenic
- Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Adsorptive media (iron-based) whole-house; Anion exchange
- Chloride
- Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Distillation
- Iron
- Oxidizing filter whole-house; Water softener (low levels); Aeration plus filtration
- Radon
- Aeration (bubble-up or diffused) whole-house; Granular activated carbon whole-house (lower levels only)
Book a free water test in Readfield
A licensed local water treatment company tests your tap water in your home, walks you through the numbers, and quotes treatment only if something needs fixing. Free, about 30 minutes, no obligation.
Common questions
How deep are wells in Readfield?
The typical domestic well in Readfield is 240 feet deep, based on 268 wells reported to the state since 1970. One in ten is deeper than 420 feet. 97% are drilled into bedrock.
Is there arsenic in well water in Readfield?
Arsenic was detected in 100% of 17 public well samples in Readfield, and 100% were above the EPA limit of 10 ug/L. Arsenic has no taste or smell; a lab test is the only way to know your level.
How high is radon in well water in Readfield?
The median radon level across 1 public samples in Readfield was 2,590 pCi/L, with a high of 2,590 pCi/L. New Hampshire recommends treatment above 2,000 pCi/L.
How often should I test a private well in Readfield?
Test for bacteria and nitrate every year. Test once for arsenic, uranium, radon, fluoride, manganese and PFAS, then again every three to five years or after any change in taste, color, or plumbing.
Sources
- USGS Water Quality Portal: 51 samples in Readfield. Data from the Water Quality Portal, a service of USGS, EPA and USDA; groundwater samples collected by USGS and cooperators. Retrieved September 3, 2026.
- Maine DEP PFAS investigation: 20 samples in Readfield. PFAS results for private wells sampled by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection. Retrieved September 3, 2026.
- Maine Tracking Network private well summaries: summaries for 6 contaminants in Readfield, up to 334 wells each. Town summaries of private well tests run by the Maine Health and Environmental Testing Laboratory, published by Maine CDC through the Maine Tracking Network. Shares are against Maine's guideline for each analyte (arsenic 10 ug/L, uranium 30 ug/L, fluoride 2 mg/L, manganese 0.3 mg/L, nitrate 10 mg/L, nitrite 1 mg/L). Towns with too few tests are suppressed (NR). Only the share above the guideline and wells tested are published; no medians. Retrieved September 3, 2026.
- Maine Geological Survey well database: 279 well records in Readfield, 268 domestic. Well construction records reported to the Maine Geological Survey by licensed well drillers. Only aggregates are shown; owner names and addresses are never stored. Retrieved September 3, 2026.
- Maine DEP regulated sites: 13 regulated sites located in Readfield. Remediation sites, leaking underground storage tanks and closed municipal landfills from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection. Retrieved September 3, 2026.
Non-detects count as samples and are treated as zero when computing medians. Exactly at the limit counts as not above it. A sample belongs to the town containing the well's reported coordinates.