About 40% of homes in Maine rely on groundwater well systems for drinking water. In Hancock County, the percentage is higher–most households use a private well. In these cases, it is up to the homeowner to ensure their drinking water is safe for human consumption.
Groundwater in Hancock County may contain arsenic, radon, lead, and other contaminants naturally occurring in the surrounding rocks and soil. The Maine CDC recommends testing your well water for these contaminants and others every 3 to 5 years to ensure its safety.
Below are various weblinks and downloadable PDFs provide educational information and other resources about water, aquifers, groundwater recharge, water testing, and legislation.
Maine Geological Service
Maine Center for Disease Control & Prevention
Maine Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP)
PFAS Information
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- Maine DEP PFAS Landing Page
- PFAS Work by Maine DEP
- PFAS in Products/Reporting
- Water Sampling for Homeowners
HCPC Resources for Towns
- Regulations, Protection Strategies, Public Education
- Land Use Regulations, Types of Systems (Note: the funding information may no longer apply)
- Map of Hancock County Aquifers
