What was found in Portland's water
The level at the city's main supplier, the highest level anywhere in the city, the EPA limit for each, and where every figure comes from.
| Contaminant | Level vs EPA limit | Suppliers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate | 219 µg/L 2.2% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: METROPOLITAN DISTRICT COMMISSION · 390,887 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 4930 µg/L — PORTLAND WATER DEPARTMENT · 5,010 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 198.3 µg/L 2% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: METROPOLITAN DISTRICT COMMISSION · 390,887 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 4821.5 µg/L — PORTLAND WATER DEPARTMENT · 5,010 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 1029 µg/L 26% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: METROPOLITAN DISTRICT COMMISSION · 390,887 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 183.1 µg/L 14% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: METROPOLITAN DISTRICT COMMISSION · 390,887 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 371 µg/L — PORTLAND WATER DEPARTMENT · 5,010 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 10.535 µg/L 0.5% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: METROPOLITAN DISTRICT COMMISSION · 390,887 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 339 µg/L — PORTLAND WATER DEPARTMENT · 5,010 people · 2018 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 71.5525 µg/L 89% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: METROPOLITAN DISTRICT COMMISSION · 390,887 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 64.475 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: METROPOLITAN DISTRICT COMMISSION · 390,887 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 52.705 µg/L 88% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: METROPOLITAN DISTRICT COMMISSION · 390,887 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 42.1251 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: METROPOLITAN DISTRICT COMMISSION · 390,887 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 36.0718 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: METROPOLITAN DISTRICT COMMISSION · 390,887 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 17.34 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: METROPOLITAN DISTRICT COMMISSION · 390,887 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 13.35 µg/L 89% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: METROPOLITAN DISTRICT COMMISSION · 390,887 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 15.4 µg/L — PORTLAND WATER DEPARTMENT · 5,010 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 6.6695 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: METROPOLITAN DISTRICT COMMISSION · 390,887 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 4.823 pCi/L 32% of the EPA limit 15 pCi/L Highest in the city: SOLANO INN LLC · 96 people · 2018 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 0.7503 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: METROPOLITAN DISTRICT COMMISSION · 390,887 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 2.9 µg/L — PORTLAND WATER DEPARTMENT · 5,010 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 2.07175 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: METROPOLITAN DISTRICT COMMISSION · 390,887 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 1.4465 pCi/L 29% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Main supplier: METROPOLITAN DISTRICT COMMISSION · 390,887 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 1.64 pCi/L — CTWC - RIVERCREST DIVISION · 88 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 1.6235 µg/L 5.4% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L Highest in the city: CTWC - RIVERCREST DIVISION · 88 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Toluene | 1.1 µg/L 0.1% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Highest in the city: CTWC - RIVERCREST DIVISION · 88 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Beryllium, Total | 0.6327 µg/L 16% of the EPA limit 4 µg/L Main supplier: METROPOLITAN DISTRICT COMMISSION · 390,887 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Mercury | 0.2000 µg/L 10% of the EPA limit 2 µg/L Main supplier: METROPOLITAN DISTRICT COMMISSION · 390,887 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Pfpea | 0.0036 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: PORTLAND WATER DEPARTMENT · 5,010 people · 2023 | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhxa | 0.0033 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: PORTLAND WATER DEPARTMENT · 5,010 people · 2023 | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 0.0 mg/L 0% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: METROPOLITAN DISTRICT COMMISSION · 390,887 people · 2025
Highest in the city: 0.00060 mg/L — CTWC - RIVERCREST DIVISION · 88 people · 2026 | 4/4 | LCR |
Each bar shows the measured level as a share of the EPA limit: green is
well under, amber is close to it, red is over. For lead and copper the
limit applies to exactly the 90th-percentile figure shown, so red there
means a real exceedance. For everything else the limit applies to a
running annual average while the figure is the 95th percentile of the
system's samples — over 100% is worth reading, but is not by itself a
violation.
Formal violations are listed separately.
These are the utilities' own EPA-reported results, not a city-wide
average. A detection means the lab measured the
substance — it isn't the same as exceeding a legal limit. Hover a source
tag to see the EPA program and years behind each figure.
Water suppliers serving Portland
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| METROPOLITAN DISTRICT COMMISSION | 390,887 |
| PORTLAND WATER DEPARTMENT | 5,010 |
| SOLANO INN LLC | 96 |
| CTWC - RIVERCREST DIVISION | 88 |
Frequently asked questions about Portland tap water
Is Portland tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 24 contaminants in the water serving Portland. A detection isn't the same as a violation — most detected levels are within federal limits. Check the level and source for each contaminant above, and your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report for the official compliance status.
How many water suppliers serve Portland?
4 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Portland, Connecticut to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Portland's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Portland include Nitrate, Nitrate-Nitrite, Fluoride, Copper, Barium. The full list, with the level at the main supplier and the data source, is in the table above.
Where does this data come from?
Every figure is official EPA drinking-water monitoring — the Lead & Copper Rule, the UCMR-5 nationwide testing program, and the EPA Six-Year Review — not our own testing. Each number is labelled with its source and period.