Compliance

The Compliance Section works with private labs, the Maine Health & Environmental Testing Lab, and public water systems to test drinking water quality in accordance with the Safe Drinking Water Act. The Section’s staff members review all analytical data and allocate violations to systems, which exceed the maximum contamination level or fail to test the water supply. The Compliance Section provides technical assistance on sampling or treatment techniques to public water suppliers as well as private well owners.

Water Treatment Specialist List (This is a list of water treatment specialists that the DWP currently has record of; please contact the webmaster to include additional specialists.)

Engineering Resources (This is a list of companies that the DWP currently has record of; please contact the webmaster to include additional companies.)

Around February of each year, the Compliance Section generates testing requirements for all public water supplies. If you have not received a copy or you feel your schedule contains errors, please call the DWP at (207) 287-2070.

Please remember the following guidelines when taking compliance samples:

THE LABORATORY YOU HAVE SELECTED MUST BE CERTIFIED TO PERFORM THE TESTS YOU WANT RUN ON YOUR WATER SAMPLES.

All Certified Laboratories

If you are operating a seasonal facility and are open for any portion of a calendar quarter, you are responsible for all water tests required for that quarter. The quarters are designated by the following dates: January 1st to March 31st; April 1st to June 30th; July 1st to September 30th; and October 1st to December 31st. A sample may be collected on any day during a given quarter.

If you are operating a seasonal facility, we are waiving any quarterly water-testing requirement for a quarter if a business closes on or before the 15th of the first month of that quarter. Please note that this waiver applies only to quarterly water tests.

Quarterly Test Waivers for Seasonal Water Systems
Your System Closes Between:	Quarterly Water Tests Waived
January 1 – January 15	January 1 – March 31
April 1 – April 15	April 1 – June 30
July 1 – July 15	July 1 – September 30
October 1 – October 15	October 1 - December 31

It is your responsibility that water test results get submitted to the DWP. The State Lab automatically sends our office test results. If you use a private lab however, make sure we get copies of your tests.

Be sure to contact Lindy Moceus before testing for Endothall or Diquat, to be sure that you are required to test for them.

Diquat, Asbestos, and MPA (Microscopic Particulate Analysis) are only analyzed in laboratories outside the state of Maine. Please contact the DWP if you are required to test for any of these contaminants.

Bacteria samples must be taken within the distribution system at the pre-approved locations you submitted on your bacteria sample site plan. No compliance bacteria should be collected at the source unless it is the only public access to the water.

For small water systems that have no treatment, the entry point sample(s) can be taken from the first tap within the distribution system.

The new list of laboratory test codes and costs for the Maine Health and Environmental Testing Laboratory is now available.

DWP INFORMATION

Compliance