What was found in Sanford'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 | 870 µg/L 22% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: SANFORD WATER DISTRICT · 14,328 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 1786 µg/L — MARSH BROOK ESTATES · 70 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate | 1600 µg/L 16% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: SANFORD WATER DISTRICT · 14,328 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 1525 µg/L 15% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: SANFORD WATER DISTRICT · 14,328 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 468 µg/L 36% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: SANFORD WATER DISTRICT · 14,328 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 28.95 µg/L 1.4% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: SANFORD WATER DISTRICT · 14,328 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 89.7 µg/L — MARSH BROOK ESTATES · 70 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 18.2 µg/L 23% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: SANFORD WATER DISTRICT · 14,328 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 15.5 µg/L 103% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 15 µg/L Main supplier: SANFORD WATER DISTRICT · 14,328 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 9.19 µg/L 15% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: SANFORD WATER DISTRICT · 14,328 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 6.9 µg/L 6.9% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Main supplier: SANFORD WATER DISTRICT · 14,328 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 3.55 µg/L 36% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Main supplier: SANFORD WATER DISTRICT · 14,328 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 5.5 µg/L — ESTES LAKE MOBILE HOME PARK · 172 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 3.5 pCi/L 23% of the EPA limit 15 pCi/L Main supplier: SANFORD WATER DISTRICT · 14,328 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 5.4 pCi/L — ESTES LAKE MOBILE HOME PARK · 172 people · 2014 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 2.2 µg/L 7.3% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L Main supplier: SANFORD WATER DISTRICT · 14,328 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 5.3 µg/L — ESTES LAKE MOBILE HOME PARK · 172 people · 2017 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 3.81 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: MARSH BROOK ESTATES · 70 people · 2013 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Cadmium | 2.7 µg/L 54% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Main supplier: SANFORD WATER DISTRICT · 14,328 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Toluene | 1.1 µg/L 0.1% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Main supplier: SANFORD WATER DISTRICT · 14,328 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 1.09 pCi/L 22% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Main supplier: SANFORD WATER DISTRICT · 14,328 people · 2017 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Antimony, Total | 1 µg/L 17% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L Main supplier: SANFORD WATER DISTRICT · 14,328 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Pfpea | 0.0107 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SANFORD WATER DISTRICT · 14,328 people · 2025 | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhxa | 0.0073 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SANFORD WATER DISTRICT · 14,328 people · 2025 | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| PFOS | 0.0071 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SANFORD WATER DISTRICT · 14,328 people · 2025 | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| PFOA | 0.0068 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SANFORD WATER DISTRICT · 14,328 people · 2025 | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfba | 0.0050 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SANFORD WATER DISTRICT · 14,328 people · 2025 | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhpa | 0.0044 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SANFORD WATER DISTRICT · 14,328 people · 2025 | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| PFHXS | 0.0033 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SANFORD WATER DISTRICT · 14,328 people · 2025 | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 0.0030 mg/L 20% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: SANFORD WATER DISTRICT · 14,328 people · 2023 | 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 Sanford
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| SANFORD WATER DISTRICT | 14,328 |
| ESTES LAKE MOBILE HOME PARK | 172 |
| PINEWOOD PARK | 108 |
| MARSH BROOK ESTATES | 70 |
Frequently asked questions about Sanford tap water
Is Sanford tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 25 contaminants in the water serving Sanford. 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 Sanford?
4 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Sanford, Maine to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Sanford's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Sanford include Fluoride, Nitrate, Nitrate-Nitrite, 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.