Maine struggling to get homeowners to test and treat private wells for arsenic
Summary
Many people in Maine use private wells for their drinking water, but less than 55% have tested their wells for arsenic, a harmful contaminant. The state has tried to help low-income homeowners test and treat their wells, but funding is limited, and treatment can be expensive.Key Facts
- About half of Maine homes rely on private wells for drinking water.
- Only 53% of homeowners had tested their wells for arsenic as of 2023, up slightly from 48% in 2014.
- The Maine CDC aimed for 65% of wells to be tested by 2020 but fell short.
- Lower-income households (under $25,000 yearly income) were least likely to test their wells.
- Arsenic is found naturally in Maine’s bedrock and can dissolve into groundwater.
- Arsenic cannot be detected by taste, smell, or sight but can harm health, especially children’s development.
- Testing and treating wells can cost thousands of dollars, and state help programs have limited, temporary funding.
- A proposed $1 million fund to help homeowners test and treat wells did not pass in the state legislature.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.
