Monitoring Violations ME

Bowdoinham Water District

EPA ID: ME0090210 · 738 people served · 2 ZIP codes

Bowdoinham Water District's current EPA file includes 1 unresolved violation — every outstanding finding is documented in federal records for this utility, which supplies water to approximately 738 residents across its service territory.

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02

B · 81
Avg Safety Score
738
People Served
2
ZIP Codes Served
5
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
0.0043 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 2
Radon Risk · Moderate
5
Contaminants Flagged
$296K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Bowdoinham Water District Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary — Grade B

Service Area Demographics

$91,576
Median Household Income
6,295
Service Area Population
13%
Disadvantaged Population
40th
Poverty Percentile
80th
Energy Burden Percentile
43%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Bowdoinham Water District serves a community with a median household income of $91,576 and an estimated 6,295 residents across its service area. Approximately 43% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

💧 Where Does Your Water Come From?

Groundwater

Bowdoinham Water District's water is pumped from underground aquifers. Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil, but it can be vulnerable to PFAS contamination, nitrates from agriculture, and industrial chemicals that seep into the water table.

Moderate Risk
Source Contamination Risk
50th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
70th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 1% of homes in Sagadahoc County, Maine rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.

Superfund Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 70th percentile nationally for proximity to Superfund (NPL) sites. Groundwater sources near contaminated sites may face elevated risk from industrial chemicals.

Infrastructure Risk

36 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
35 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Stable
Decay Status
Installed 51% of expected lifespan used End of life

Detected Contaminants

How Bowdoinham Water District compares to EPA limits

Combined Radium 1 pCi/L (20% of limit)
0 EPA Limit: 5 pCi/L

What This Means For You

Total Coliform at 1 presence exceeds the EPA maximum of presence.

Gross Alpha at 1 pCi/L exceeds the EPA maximum of pCi/L. Increased cancer risk from radioactive particles. Consider reverse osmosis filtration.

Contaminant 4004 at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Surface Water Treatment Rule at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Gross Alpha was detected in this water system. reverse osmosis filtration can reduce exposure.

Find a certified water filter →

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Maine

B 9 violations
D 0 violations
0 violations
0 violations
C 6 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance Radon Mitigation
Flood Insurance $1,500
Radon Mitigation $400
Total Estimated Cost $1,900

Based on national averages for common remediation projects. Actual costs vary by property. Only issues flagged by EPA, FEMA, or state data for each ZIP code are included.

Cost of Inaction

If water quality issues in this service area are not addressed, the estimated financial impact per household is:

Estimated Healthcare Costs $1,000

Annual per household (CDC est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$5,000
10 years
$10,000
20 years
$20,000

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $1,900 (one-time) vs. $10,000 in estimated inaction costs over 10 years.

Estimates based on published EPA, CDC, and peer-reviewed research. Individual costs vary by household size, property, and health factors. These are conservative lower-bound estimates intended for awareness, not financial advice.

System Overview

Bowdoinham Water District (EPA ID: ME0090210) is a community water system in Maine that serves approximately 738 people from groundwater sources.

This system provides water to 2 ZIP codes across 2 communities.

Average Home Safety Score: B (81/100)

Based on water quality violations, lead levels, and radon risk across all ZIP codes served by this system.

Violation History

5 monitoring/reporting violations recorded. These are procedural violations (missed tests or late reports), not necessarily water safety issues.

Contaminants Detected

The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:

Contaminant Category Violations Health-Based
Total Coliform Microbiological 1 No
Gross Alpha Radionuclides 1 No
Contaminant 4004 Other Violation 1 No
Combined Radium Radionuclides 1 No
Surface Water Treatment Rule Treatment Failure 1 No

Lead & Copper

EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data for ZIP codes served by this system:

ZIP Code Lead Level Exceeds Limit Sample Date
04008 0.0043 mg/L No N/A
04287 0.0013 mg/L No N/A

Radon Risk in Service Area

Dominant radon zone for ZIP codes served by this system: Zone 2 (Moderate Risk)

The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.

Need help with your water quality?

Typical cost: Water test: typically $20–$50 (DIY kit) · Professional inspection: $150–$400

Find the Right Water Filter

Free tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking — this helps flush lead from your pipes.

ZIP Codes Served

Coverage: Service area ZIP codes sourced from EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 (March 2026 release). These ZIPs reflect the actual deployment footprint recorded by ME or modeled from parcel and building-footprint data.

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Bowdoinham Water District (ME0090210) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bowdoinham Water District water safe to drink?

Bowdoinham Water District has only monitoring/reporting violations, which are procedural in nature. The system meets federal health-based standards.

How many people does Bowdoinham Water District serve?

Bowdoinham Water District serves approximately 738 people across 2 ZIP codes in Maine.

Where does Bowdoinham Water District get its water?

The primary water source is groundwater.

Lead Service Line Inventory

Service line breakdown reported under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) inventory requirement:

0
Confirmed Lead
0
Galvanized — Replacement Required
60
Unknown Material
236
Confirmed Non-Lead

This system reports zero confirmed lead service lines in its inventory. Unknown-material counts may still warrant verification.

Federal LCRI rule (effective October 2024) requires every public water system to inventory its service lines and complete lead-line replacement within 10 years.

Federal Regulatory Status · 2026Q1
LCRR inventory submission: Reported all required service line types
Latest tap sample on 2023-01-01 did not exceed the federal lead action level.
Population served: 738
Reported to Maine

Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Service Line Inventory (Phase 2) · Submitted 2026

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with the utility or state agency. Inventory figures render verbatim from the public LCRI submission cited above; ZipCheckup does not perform inspections or replacements.

Learn about lead in drinking water →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water from Bowdoinham Water District safe to drink?
Bowdoinham Water District earns a B safety grade with 5 violations in the past 5 years. Tap water meets EPA standards for most contaminants.
What contaminants are in Bowdoinham Water District's water?
Detected contaminants include Total Coliform, Gross Alpha, Contaminant 4004, Surface Water Treatment Rule. Each is compared against EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) in the detailed breakdown above.
Should I use a water filter?
Given 4 contaminants above EPA limits, a certified water filter can provide an extra layer of protection. The best type depends on specific contaminants in your water.
How many people does Bowdoinham Water District serve?
Bowdoinham Water District serves approximately 738 people with drinking water across 2 ZIP codes.
What is Bowdoinham Water District's water source?
Bowdoinham Water District draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Bowdoinham Water District's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.0043 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Bowdoinham Water District's service area?
The Bowdoinham Water District service area has a median household income of $91,576. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does Bowdoinham Water District get its water?
Bowdoinham Water District's water is pumped from underground aquifers. Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil, but it can be vulnerable to PFAS contamination, nitrates from agriculture, and industrial chemicals that seep into the water table. Based on available data, the source contamination risk is moderate.

What You Can Do

1

Test your water

Home test kits can detect lead, bacteria, and other contaminants at your tap. Find the right filter →

2

Check your specific ZIP code

Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report →

3

Contact your utility

Bowdoinham Water District (EPA ID: ME0090210) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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