Maine grapples with low private-well testing rates and rising arsenic-treatment costs
Only about half of Maine’s private-well owners have tested for arsenic, and state aid for filtration is falling short as prices climb.
Maine’s effort to ensure safe drinking water from private wells is stalling, with just over half of owners having tested for arsenic as of 2023, a modest rise from 2014. The shortfall is most pronounced among households earning under $25,000, who are also least able to afford remediation. A program administered by MaineHousing, launched in 2017 with $500,000 and later bolstered by $400,000, has installed only 57 filtration systems after spending the bulk of its funds, far below the projected 500 homes.
Costs for arsenic treatment have jumped, with average installations now $4,000-$5,000 and whole-house solutions reaching $15,000, partly due to higher material prices and tariffs. A bill proposing a $1 million state fund to address well contamination died in the legislature, and lawmakers have yet to secure new appropriations. Advocates like Rep. Daniel Ankeles plan to reintroduce funding measures, warning that inadequate water safety threatens public health.
Why it matters
Unsafe well water can harm children’s development and health, especially for low-income families lacking affordable treatment options.
In this story
