Is South Portland, 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 Portland Water District – Greater.
Portland Water District – Greater supplies South Portland (135,068 people).
Water system
Portland Water District – Greater
135,068 people · Surface water · EPA ID ME0091300
| 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: 1.5 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.
South Portland 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 South Portland city (tables B25034, B25003). Estimates for small places have a margin of error.
How nearby cities compare
| City | PFAS | Lead (90th pct.) |
|---|---|---|
| Portland 5 mi Portland Water District – Greater | None above limits | 1.5 ppb |
| Auburn 31 mi Auburn Water District | None above limits | 5 ppb |
| Lewiston 32 mi Lewiston Water & Sewer Division | None above limits | 1.7 ppb |
| Bangor 111 mi Bangor Water District | None above limits | 7.45 ppb |
South Portland ZIP codes (1)
- 04106
Questions
Is South Portland tap water safe to drink?
Portland Water District – Greater 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 South Portland, ME?
Portland Water District – Greater, which serves 135,068 people.
Does South Portland tap water have PFAS?
None detected above EPA's reporting limits. Portland Water District – Greater 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 South Portland homes have lead pipes?
Census estimates put 61% of South Portland 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. Portland Water District – Greater'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.