Monitoring Violations ME

Gardiner Water District

EPA ID: ME0090610 · 9,000 people served · 4 ZIP codes

Right now, Gardiner Water District shows 1 EPA violation marked active and unresolved — the provider continues to supply approximately 9,000 residents while each finding awaits closure.

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

C · 60
Avg Safety Score
9,000
People Served
4
ZIP Codes Served
6
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
0.00344 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 1
Radon Risk · High
4
Contaminants Flagged
$202K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

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

Service area boundary — Grade C

Service Area Demographics

$64,422
Median Household Income
17,218
Service Area Population
29%
Disadvantaged Population
50th
Poverty Percentile
90th
Energy Burden Percentile
67%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Gardiner Water District serves a community with a median household income of $64,422 and an estimated 17,218 residents across its service area. Approximately 67% 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

Gardiner 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.

Elevated Risk
Source Contamination Risk
50th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
40th
Superfund Site Proximity

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

Infrastructure Risk

49 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
20 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Stable
Decay Status
Installed 71% of expected lifespan used End of life

Detected Contaminants

How Gardiner Water District compares to EPA limits

Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) 1 mg/L (EXCEEDS LIMIT)
0 EPA Limit: 0.08 mg/L
Bladder & rectal cancer risk; reproductive concerns

What This Means For You

Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.08 mg/L. Bladder & rectal cancer risk; reproductive concerns. Consider granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration.

Stage 1 DBP Rule at 3 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Lead and Copper Rule at 2 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

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

PFAS Detected in Service Area

PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 2 detections recorded.

State limits: PFOA: 0.02 ppt, PFOS: 0.02 ppt
Health concern: PFAS are linked to cancer, thyroid disease, immune suppression, and developmental effects. They do not break down naturally.
Recommended filter: Reverse osmosis (RO) or activated carbon filters certified for PFAS removal. Find the right filter →

Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) was detected in this water system. granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration can reduce exposure.

Find a certified water filter →

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Maine

B 0 violations
Bath Water District
9,290 people
C 1 violation
D 0 violations
D 0 violations
D 5 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance Radon Mitigation PFAS Treatment
Flood Insurance $1,350
Radon Mitigation $800
PFAS Treatment $125
Total Estimated Cost $2,275

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.)

PFAS Exposure — Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$5,165
10 years
$10,330
20 years
$20,660

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $2,275 (one-time) vs. $10,330 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

Gardiner Water District (EPA ID: ME0090610) is a community water system in Maine that serves approximately 9,000 people from groundwater sources.

This system provides water to 4 ZIP codes across 4 communities.

Average Home Safety Score: C (60/100)

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

Violation History

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

Recent Violations

Date Contaminant Type Status
December 30, 2024 Stage 1 DBP Rule Monitoring Resolved
July 1, 2024 Surface Water Treatment Rule Monitoring Resolved
March 11, 2023 Lead and Copper Rule Monitoring Unresolved

Contaminants Detected

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

Contaminant Category Violations Health-Based
Stage 1 DBP Rule Treatment Failure 3 No
Lead and Copper Rule Treatment Failure 2 No
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Disinfection Byproducts 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
04345 0.00344 mg/L No N/A
04344 0.0027 mg/L No N/A

Radon Risk in Service Area

Dominant radon zone for ZIP codes served by this system: Zone 1 (High 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 Gardiner Water District (ME0090610) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Gardiner Water District water safe to drink?

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

How many people does Gardiner Water District serve?

Gardiner Water District serves approximately 9,000 people across 4 ZIP codes in Maine.

Where does Gardiner Water District get its water?

The primary water source is groundwater.

Water Source & Treatment

Where this water originates and how it's treated before reaching your tap.

Source
Groundwater
Drawn from underground aquifers via wells.

Source: GARDINER WATER DISTRICT Consumer Confidence Report.

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility. Treatment and source data are sourced from the utility's published CCR filings.

Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Detected

This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). PFAS compounds were detected below the current state-enforceable MCL.

Samples collected
58
Detections
2
Latest sample
10/11/2023
Highest analyte
PFHxS: 4.2 ppt
Analyte Max detected Current MCL Status
PFHxS 4.2 ppt 10 ppt Below current MCL
PFHxA 4.1 ppt

Current MCL reflects the lowest state-enforceable limit (NYS 10 ppt for PFOA/PFOS, effective August 2020). The federal final MCL of 4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS (EPA April 2024 rule) is not enforceable until April 2029. Detections above 4 ppt but below 10 ppt are below current MCL but above the future federal limit.

Source: U.S. EPA UCMR5 (Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 5th cycle) — per-system federal sampling, 2023–2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program →

Understand PFAS health context and filtration →

PFAS Substances Detected in This System

This water system's Consumer Confidence Report disclosed the following PFAS compounds. Levels are from the utility's most recent reporting cycle.

Substance Detected level EPA limit Status
TOTAL PFAS (6 regulated)
Not yet EPA-regulated
Not disclosed No federal limit set
PFHxA
Not yet EPA-regulated
Not disclosed No federal limit set
PFHxS
Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid
EPA-regulated (2024 NPDWR)
Not disclosed 10 ppt

In April 2024, EPA finalized the first National Primary Drinking Water Regulation for six PFAS. Public water systems have until 2029 to comply. EPA — PFAS regulation overview →

Source: Consumer Confidence Report disclosed by GARDINER WATER DISTRICT.

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility. PFAS detection data is sourced from public Consumer Confidence Reports filed by the utility itself.

Learn more about PFAS health effects and filtration →

Lead Service Line Inventory

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

0
Confirmed Lead
66
Galvanized — Replacement Required
1,208
Unknown Material
1,902
Confirmed Non-Lead

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 2025-01-01 did not exceed the federal lead action level.
Population served: 9,000
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 →

Notable events and violations

This section summarizes events the utility chose to disclose in its most recent Consumer Confidence Report, plus any federal compliance violations the utility recorded against itself. Both lists are utility-authored — ZipCheckup does not audit, judge, or reorder them.

Notable events from the utility's CCR

These bullet entries are the utility's own narration of operational, regulatory, or infrastructure events during the reporting period.

Notable events from GARDINER WATER DISTRICT Consumer Confidence Report:
  • 1 site exceeded Lead action level (90th still below AL)

ZipCheckup note: items above reflect what the utility published in its most recent CCR. Federal violation records are also tracked separately by the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) — the SDWIS record is the authoritative federal source for any specific regulatory action.

How Water Systems Appear in Rankings

Water systems are evaluated by violation history, contaminant detections, and service population. Larger systems with more service connections appear in more rankings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water from Gardiner Water District safe to drink?
Gardiner Water District has a C safety grade based on 6 recorded violations. Some contaminants may exceed EPA limits — independent testing is recommended.
What contaminants are in Gardiner Water District's water?
Detected contaminants include Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM), Stage 1 DBP Rule, Lead and Copper Rule, 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 Gardiner Water District serve?
Gardiner Water District serves approximately 9,000 people with drinking water across 4 ZIP codes.
What is Gardiner Water District's water source?
Gardiner Water District draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Gardiner Water District's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.00344 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Gardiner Water District's service area?
The Gardiner Water District service area has a median household income of $64,422. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does Gardiner Water District get its water?
Gardiner 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 violation history and environmental factors, the source contamination risk is currently elevated.

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

Gardiner Water District (EPA ID: ME0090610) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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