Is Auburn, ME tap water safe?
Data: U.S. EPA · How we read the data · How we check it
Summary
No federal limits exceeded in EPA data for Auburn Water District.
Auburn Water District supplies Auburn (17,245 people).
Water system
Auburn Water District
17,245 people · Surface water · EPA ID ME0090070
| PFAS | Highest average | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| PFOA Not detected | – | 4 ppt |
| PFOS Not detected | – | 4 ppt |
| PFHxS Not detected | – | 10 ppt |
| PFNA Not detected | – | 10 ppt |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) Not detected | – | 10 ppt |
ppt = parts per trillion. "Highest average" is the highest average at any of the system's entry points, the way EPA compares results with the limits.
Lead: 5 ppb at the 90th percentile (Nov 2026, and 9 in 10 homes sampled were at or below it) Below action level
Health-based violations since 2016: 0
Across Maine, 2 of 39 water systems EPA tested had PFAS above a 2024 federal limit, and 1 system were above the lead action level in results from the last five years. Maine results.
Auburn homes and lead pipes
Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so homes from before then are the ones to check. Renting? Ask your landlord what the service line is made of, because it's their pipe to replace. How to check your own line.
Housing: Census American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates for Auburn city (tables B25034, B25003). Estimates for small places have a margin of error.
How nearby cities compare
| City | PFAS | Lead (90th pct.) |
|---|---|---|
| Lewiston 4 mi Lewiston Water & Sewer Division | None above limits | 1.7 ppb |
| Portland 31 mi Portland Water District – Greater | None above limits | 1.5 ppb |
| South Portland 31 mi Portland Water District – Greater | None above limits | 1.5 ppb |
| Bangor 89 mi Bangor Water District | None above limits | 7.45 ppb |
Auburn ZIP codes (1)
- 04210
Questions
Is Auburn tap water safe to drink?
Auburn Water District has had no health-based violations since 2016. Utility data can't show lead from your own pipes: if your home was built before 1986, test your tap. Your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report is the official summary.
Who supplies water in Auburn, ME?
Auburn Water District, which serves 17,245 people.
Does Auburn tap water have PFAS?
None detected above EPA's reporting limits. Auburn Water District had no PFAS detected in EPA's 2023–2025 testing. "Not detected" means below the reporting limit (about 2 to 20 ppt), not proven zero.
Do Auburn homes have lead pipes?
Census estimates put 74% of Auburn homes as built before 1980 (Maine: 54%). Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so older homes are more likely to have them. Auburn Water District's service line inventory says what your line is made of. The only way to know for your home is to check the line where it enters the house and test your tap.
Source: U.S. EPA drinking water records and PFAS testing (UCMR 5). How we read the data.