What was found in Holden'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-Nitrite | 146 µg/L 1.5% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: BREWER WATER DEPARTMENT · 8,860 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 2865.5 µg/L — CEDAR HAVEN MHC · 395 people · 2019 | 5/6 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate | 150 µg/L 1.5% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: BREWER WATER DEPARTMENT · 8,860 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 2105 µg/L — CEDAR HAVEN MHC · 395 people · 2019 | 5/6 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 800 µg/L 20% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: BREWER WATER DEPARTMENT · 8,860 people · 2019 | 5/6 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 126.5 µg/L 9.7% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: BREWER WATER DEPARTMENT · 8,860 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 152.4 µg/L — CEDAR HAVEN MHC · 395 people · 2019 | 5/6 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 1.7 µg/L 0.1% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: BREWER WATER DEPARTMENT · 8,860 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 133 µg/L — CEDAR HAVEN MHC · 395 people · 2019 | 5/6 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 13 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: BREWER WATER DEPARTMENT · 8,860 people · 2019 | 1/6 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 13 µg/L 22% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: BREWER WATER DEPARTMENT · 8,860 people · 2019 | 1/6 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 0.8925 µg/L 0.9% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Main supplier: BREWER WATER DEPARTMENT · 8,860 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 10.335 µg/L — GREENWOOD GARDEN APARTMENTS · 50 people · 2017 | 5/6 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 8.98 µg/L 60% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: BREWER WATER DEPARTMENT · 8,860 people · 2019 | 5/6 | SYR4 |
| Antimony, Total | 8.85 µg/L 148% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 6 µg/L Highest in the city: CEDAR HAVEN MHC · 395 people · 2019 | 1/6 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 0.6160 µg/L 6.2% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Main supplier: BREWER WATER DEPARTMENT · 8,860 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 6.73 µg/L — HOLDEN SQUARE APARTMENTS · 63 people · 2018 | 4/6 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 4.45 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: BREWER WATER DEPARTMENT · 8,860 people · 2019 | 1/6 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 3.3085 pCi/L 22% of the EPA limit 15 pCi/L Highest in the city: CEDAR HAVEN MHC · 395 people · 2018 | 2/6 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 3.2 µg/L 6.4% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Highest in the city: CEDAR HAVEN MHC · 395 people · 2019 | 1/6 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 2.9 µg/L 9.7% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L Highest in the city: CEDAR HAVEN MHC · 395 people · 2019 | 2/6 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 2.2 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: BREWER WATER DEPARTMENT · 8,860 people · 2019 | 1/6 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 2.1985 pCi/L 44% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Highest in the city: CEDAR HAVEN MHC · 395 people · 2019 | 1/6 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 2.195 µg/L 2.7% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: BREWER WATER DEPARTMENT · 8,860 people · 2019 | 2/6 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0021 mg/L 14% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: BREWER WATER DEPARTMENT · 8,860 people · 2023
Highest in the city: 0.0053 mg/L — GREENWOOD GARDEN APARTMENTS · 50 people · 2025 | 6/6 | 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 Holden
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| BREWER WATER DEPARTMENT | 8,860 |
| CEDAR HAVEN MHC | 395 |
| HOLDEN SQUARE APARTMENTS | 63 |
| GEORGE POND ESTATES LLC | 50 |
| GREENWOOD GARDEN APARTMENTS | 50 |
| TOWN & COUNTRY MOTEL APARTMENTS | 44 |
Frequently asked questions about Holden tap water
Is Holden tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 19 contaminants in the water serving Holden. 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 Holden?
6 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Holden, Maine to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Holden's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Holden include Nitrate-Nitrite, Nitrate, 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.