Water Quality & Aesthetics

In line with our values to protect the environment through stewardship and action, our lab reuses microbiological sample bottles from our most frequent testing program!  In fact this procedure reduces our plastic waste by over 2,000 bottles a year!  Staff thoroughly cleans bottles with soap and water and autoclaves them for sterilization.  Autoclaving prepares the…

Recent updates The Portland Water District’s tap water meets the Lead and Copper Rule requirements and your water is safe to drink. When public drinking water systems first began testing for lead in the early 1990s as a result of the then recently released EPA Lead and Copper Rule, many (including  PWD) found lead levels…

During the winter and spring months, PWD adds less disinfectant to the water. That’s right, less! During colder months, the water temperature is also colder, so chloramine (chlorine compound) lasts longer as water travels through the water distribution system. So, depending on where you live, you may experience a slight chlorine taste in winter and…

Our water meets all drinking water standards and doesn’t require additional treatment beyond what it already receives; however the choice to use a home filtration system is yours to make. Home filtration products can reduce chlorine levels and water cloudiness, which some would prefer not to taste, smell or see. In some cases, these filtration…

The Portland Water District publishes annually a Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) which reports the levels of all regulated contaminants detected in the drinking water. In addition, the report provides an overview of your drinking water source and its treatment; it is a good tool for making informed choices that affect your health and that of…

Maine law mandates that a public water system must add fluoride to the water if a majority of customers vote to do so. The customers of the Portland Water District voted to have their water fluoridated in 1996 and, as required, the District began fluoridating soon thereafter. The method we use to add fluoride, the…

The Portland Water District water is of excellent quality and it meets all federal drinking water standards. However, those immuno-compromised, such as people with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, people undergoing organ transplants, people with AIDS/HIV or other immune system disorders, or some elderly and infants, should consult a doctor. All drinking water, including bottled water, may…

Hardness levels in Maine waters are generally low but can range from near zero to several hundred milligrams per liter as calcium carbonate (mg/L as CaCO3), the standard unit for hardness. The Greater Portland water source (Sebago Lake) has a hardness value of 9 and is described as soft, as you can see from the…

This stain comes from the chemical copper. Copper is present in your home plumbing and can dissolve into the drinking water. If you would like to have your water tested for copper, or lead, please contact a customer service representative at the Portland Water District.

Say Goodbye to Pink Slime – Keep Your Surfaces Clean and Dry To prevent the growth of the “pink film” in showers, toilet bowls, sink drains, tiles, and pet dishes it’s important to keep these surfaces clean and dry. The pink coloration is often caused by a bacteria named Serratia marcescens. This type of bacteria is…