Maine.gov

Division of Environmental and Community Health

Maine Center for Disease Control & Prevention

A Division of the Maine Department of Health and Human Services

DHHS → MeCDC → Environmental and Community Health → Drinking Water → Public Water Systems → Source Water Protection

Source Water Protection



Page Index

Source Water Assessment Program

Templates and Guidance

Regulatory Authority

Financial Resources

Maps and Data

For More Information

Additional Resources


wellhead
Wellhead at Poplar Stream Falls Hut (Appalachian Mountain Club)

Drinking water sources are vulnerable to contamination whether it be from harmful chemicals or biological organisms (such as bacteria and viruses). Contamination often comes from activities on the land near the source of water. Water systems, no matter how small or large, must produce safe water through a "multiple barrier approach" which includes protecting the source, providing proper disinfection and treatment, cleaning and maintaining water pipes and tanks that carry and store the water after treatment, and monitoring water quality throughout all of those processes. Source protection is the first and most important of these barriers.

 

Source Water Assessment Program (SWAP)

The Source Water Assessment Program (SWAP) (PDF), mandated by EPA, assesses the vulnerability of the state's public water supplies and provides communities with information and resources to better protect their water sources.

HatcasePond
Hatcase Pond, surface water source for the Brewer Water Department
 

Templates and Guidance

 

Regulatory Authority

2024 Summary of Regulatory Authority to Protect Drinking Water in Maine (PDF)

 

Financial Resources Available

Grants and loans are available to assist public water systems in protecting their drinking water sources.

  • Land Acquisition Loans are available for the purchase or legal control of land within a water system's source protection area.
  • Source Protection Grants are available for projects that will clearly reduce the likelihood of contamination occurring in a water system's source protection area by existing or future activities.

 

Maps and Data

Our GIS database helps protect public water sources. This database contains GPS (global positioning system) locations of all public water supply wells and intakes in the State of Maine. A wellhead protection area coverage has also been added. Gravel well delineations and watersheds for surface water supplies will be added as they come available. You can find a list of your county's public water supplies online by clicking here (PDF).

The Maine Office of GIS also has an internet mapping site where you can find locations of public water supplies in your hometown. Hard copy color maps are also available for municipalities and consultants upon request from Drinking Water Program.

 

For More Information

To learn more about source water protection, contact Ashley Hodge: Email or phone (207) 822-2341

 

Additional Resources


Updated 5/2/2024