Portland, ME: 6 Violations - Home Safety 65/100
9 ZIP codes · 1 water system · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Portland: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
For most households in Portland, ME tap water is adequate - the middle-tier grade reflects gaps in specific service areas.
How Portland Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Key Facts for Portland Residents
- Your city's water systems recorded 6 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0019 mg/L.
- Estimated remediation: $2,600 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 11.58.
Portland's Water Providers
With one provider handling most of Portland's residential supply in ME, water service accountability is concentrated in a single utility among the 1 system on record.
- C
Overview
We track home safety data for 9 ZIP codes in Portland, Maine (population ~67,663), covering 1 community water system serving approximately 135,068 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 4 of 9 ZIP codes.
4 of 4 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (100%) have recorded EPA violations. The available record reports no health-based violations for this measured scope.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Portland: C (65/100)
Model 4.0.0 uses four measured components across three equally weighted domains. If a required domain is unavailable, no score is published:
| Factor | What It Measures |
|---|---|
| Water Quality | EPA violations and compliance history |
| PFAS MCL Screen | UCMR 5 testing against the covered federal MCLs |
| Radon Risk | EPA radon zone classification |
| Annual AQI | EPA AirData county-year median with at least 90 observed days |
Water Sources
Portland water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0019 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 4 ZIP codes with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 1 (High Risk)
- Zone 1 (High): 9 ZIP codes
- Zone 2 (Moderate): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 3 (Low): 0 ZIP codes
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contaminant 1011 | Other | 10 | 4 |
| Chlorite | Disinfection Byproducts | 10 | 4 |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 5 | 4 |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 5 | 4 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 04101 | C | 6 | 0 | Portland Water District-greater |
| 04102 | C | 6 | 0 | Portland Water District-greater |
| 04103 | C | 6 | 0 | Portland Water District-greater |
| 04109 | — | 6 | 0 | Portland Water District-greater |
All ZIP Codes in Portland
- 04101 [C] - 6 violations
- 04102 [C] - 6 violations
- 04103 [C] - 6 violations
- 04104
- 04109 - 6 violations
- 04112
- 04122
- 04123
- 04124
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Lead/copper: EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data
- Radon: EPA Map of Radon Zones
Reporting periods vary by source. Missing data is shown as unavailable, not as zero.
Portland Community Health Snapshot
Source: CDC PLACES (County-level estimates). Water contamination can correlate with respiratory and chronic health conditions.
Compared to National Average
Vertical line = national average. ■ Above national · ■ Below national
What's in Portland's Water?
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
How Remediation Costs Compare in Portland
Setting Portland remediation figures against its property market, the resulting ratio sits comfortably in the low tier - a classification that reflects the kind of household financial position where most homeowners can identify documented issues, schedule the work, and absorb the cost without it registering as a significant budget disruption.
Remediation costs in Portland are relatively low compared to home values. The $1,633–$4,156 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 131% above the Maine average.
Portland: Lead Risk & Vulnerable Populations
Why children are most at risk: The CDC states there is no safe level of lead exposure for children. Children under 6 absorb lead more readily than adults, and even low levels can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems.
Lead risk in Portland appears low overall, but individual homes may differ. Testing is the only way to confirm your water's lead content.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Portland: NFIP Claim Records and Water-Quality Context
Historical NFIP data for Portland contains 67 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $32,567. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 40% have an A- or V-family dominant rated zone recorded in those historical claims. This is not a complete current FEMA property-map inventory.
How flooding affects water quality: Flood events can introduce sewage, agricultural runoff, and industrial chemicals into water supplies. Even after floodwaters recede, contamination can persist in wells and aging infrastructure. The <strong>$2,600</strong> remediation estimate shown here excludes flood insurance and is not derived from NFIP claim count.
Claim count does not establish current property risk. Check the exact address in FEMA's current map and obtain a property-specific insurance quote when relevant.
Source: historical FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claim records. No current FEMA property-map designation is asserted.
What You Can Do in Portland
- Test your water at home. City-level data shows averages - your tap may differ. NSF-certified test kits cost $20-40 and give results in days.
- Install a certified water filter. Filters rated for Contaminant 1011 can reduce the most common contaminant found in Portland's water.
- Check your home's plumbing. Homes built before 1986 may have lead solder in pipes. A licensed plumber can assess your risk.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Portland, ME