Is Portland tap water safe to drink?

Yes with good quality

Portland's tap water meets all EPA standards and scores well on our analysis. It is generally safe to drink though filtration can improve taste and provide extra precaution.

85/100
Purity Score
1
Issues Found
0.8 GPG
Hardness
Not detected
PFAS

1 Issue Detected in Portland

Arsenic Approaching Limit (0.1 mg/L)

EPA limit is 0.010 mg/L.

Arsenic info for Portland
Maine

41,010,410,204,103 · Sebago Lake

Is Portland Tap Water Safe? Full Analysis

Low Risk Updated March 2026 68,408 residents
See Best Filters for Portland
85
Purity Score

Water quality in Portland, Maine is evaluated here using public utility data and independent testing. The report includes a purity score, contaminant breakdown, and tailored filter recommendations.

Contaminant Levels

PFAS
ND
Lead
1 ppb
Nitrate
0.2 mg/L
Arsenic
0.1 mg/L
Hardness
0.8 gpg

Health Insights

  • 1
    Portland's water meets current EPA standards. Filtration can improve taste and provide extra safety.

Score

85 /100
Excellent
"Good" threshold (70)

Portland tap water is sourced from Sebago Lake and treated by Portland Water District. Overall purity score: 85/100 (Excellent). Updated for 2026.

Fix Your Water

Best filters matched to Portland's 1 issue.

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Explore Portland Water Data

PFAS Levels in PortlandPFAS testing data
Portland Lead LevelsLead testing data
Water Hardness in PortlandHardness levels
Best FiltersFull comparison
MaineState rankings

Portland Water FAQ

Is Portland ME tap water safe to drink in 2026?
Portland tap water meets EPA federal drinking water standards and scores 85/100 (Excellent) on PurityMap for 2026. For most healthy adults the water is considered safe but point-of-use filtration adds an important layer of protection.
Does Portland ME use chlorine or chloramine for disinfection?
Portland uses chloramine as the primary disinfectant with a residual level of 0.8 ppm. Chloramine is harder to remove than free chlorine and requires a catalytic carbon or reverse osmosis filter. Standard Brita-style pitchers will NOT remove chloramine.
How hard is Portland ME water and what is the TDS level?
Portland water hardness is 0.8 grains per gallon (soft) with a TDS of 25 ppm (excellent). This level is unlikely to cause significant scale buildup in household plumbing.
Has PFAS been found in Portland ME drinking water?
Based on available EPA UCMR5 monitoring data as of 2026 PFAS have not been detected above EPA advisory levels in Portland drinking water.
What is the best water filter for Portland?
Based on Portland's water profile, we recommend the Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher. Portland water scores well overall. A pitcher filter provides extra precaution and improves taste for drinking and cooking.

Nearby Reports

LewistonMaine — 85/100BangorMaine — 85/100South PortlandMaine — 85/100

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Data Sources

  • EPA SDWIS
  • EWG Tap Water Database
  • Portland Water District CCR
  • USGS monitoring data

PurityMap compiles public data. Updated March 2026.

© 2026 PurityMap. For informational purposes only.

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