What was found in Oakland'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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fluoride | 800 µg/L 20% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: KENNEBEC WATER DISTRICT · 22,060 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 366 µg/L 28% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: KENNEBEC WATER DISTRICT · 22,060 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate | 250 µg/L 2.5% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: KENNEBEC WATER DISTRICT · 22,060 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 241 µg/L 2.4% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: KENNEBEC WATER DISTRICT · 22,060 people · 2018 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 56.555 µg/L 71% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: KENNEBEC WATER DISTRICT · 22,060 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 63.3 µg/L — MAINE WATER COMPANY OAKLAND DIVISION · 2,873 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 48.2 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: KENNEBEC WATER DISTRICT · 22,060 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 52.4 µg/L — MAINE WATER COMPANY OAKLAND DIVISION · 2,873 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 29 µg/L 48% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: KENNEBEC WATER DISTRICT · 22,060 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 38.545 µg/L — MAINE WATER COMPANY OAKLAND DIVISION · 2,873 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 22 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: KENNEBEC WATER DISTRICT · 22,060 people · 2018 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 14 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: MAINE WATER COMPANY OAKLAND DIVISION · 2,873 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 11 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: KENNEBEC WATER DISTRICT · 22,060 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 13 µg/L — MAINE WATER COMPANY OAKLAND DIVISION · 2,873 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 2.125 µg/L 0.1% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: KENNEBEC WATER DISTRICT · 22,060 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 12.9 µg/L — KENNEBEC MOBILE HOME PARK · 53 people · 2018 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 7.983 µg/L 53% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: KENNEBEC WATER DISTRICT · 22,060 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 6.46 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: KENNEBEC WATER DISTRICT · 22,060 people · 2017 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 2.6 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: MAINE WATER COMPANY OAKLAND DIVISION · 2,873 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 1.1 µg/L 11% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Main supplier: KENNEBEC WATER DISTRICT · 22,060 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 2.2845 µg/L — KENNEBEC MOBILE HOME PARK · 53 people · 2018 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 1.64 pCi/L 11% of the EPA limit 15 pCi/L Highest in the city: KENNEBEC MOBILE HOME PARK · 53 people · 2016 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 1.2395 µg/L 4.1% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L Highest in the city: KENNEBEC MOBILE HOME PARK · 53 people · 2016 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Pfba | 0.0065 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: KENNEBEC WATER DISTRICT · 22,060 people · 2023 | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| PFOA | 0.0064 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: KENNEBEC WATER DISTRICT · 22,060 people · 2023 | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhpa | 0.0054 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: KENNEBEC WATER DISTRICT · 22,060 people · 2023 | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhxa | 0.0030 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: KENNEBEC WATER DISTRICT · 22,060 people · 2023 | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 0.0019 mg/L 12% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: KENNEBEC WATER DISTRICT · 22,060 people · 2024
Highest in the city: 0.0020 mg/L — MAINE WATER COMPANY OAKLAND DIVISION · 2,873 people · 2025 | 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 Oakland
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| KENNEBEC WATER DISTRICT | 22,060 |
| MAINE WATER COMPANY OAKLAND DIVISION | 2,873 |
| KENNEBEC MOBILE HOME PARK | 53 |
| OAK HILL MOBILE HOME PARK | 33 |
Frequently asked questions about Oakland tap water
Is Oakland tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 22 contaminants in the water serving Oakland. 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 Oakland?
4 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Oakland, Maine to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Oakland's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Oakland include Fluoride, Copper, Nitrate, Nitrate-Nitrite, TTHM. 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.