FRANKLIN WATER DEPARTMENT

Q: Is FRANKLIN WATER DEPARTMENT water safe to drink?

FRANKLIN WATER DEPARTMENT (PWS ID: ME0090570) has 104 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 4 PFAS compounds found. This system serves 443 people using Groundwater sources.

Q: What type of violations does FRANKLIN WATER DEPARTMENT have?

FRANKLIN WATER DEPARTMENT has 104 total violations: 7 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 85 monitoring/reporting violations, and 7 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.

Q: Has PFAS been detected in FRANKLIN WATER DEPARTMENT water?

Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 4 PFAS compounds in FRANKLIN WATER DEPARTMENT's water supply: PFHxA, PFHxS, PFPeA, PFBA. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.

Q: What water source does FRANKLIN WATER DEPARTMENT use?

FRANKLIN WATER DEPARTMENT uses Groundwater as its primary water source. It is classified as a Community Water System (CWS), serving residential populations year-round.

Q: Where does this data come from?

All data comes from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and the UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program. SDWIS tracks compliance for all public water systems regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act.

Reviewed byPlainWater Editorial, Drinking Water Quality Editorial Team · June 3, 2026

PWS ID: ME0090570 · FRANKLIN, Maine 04634

FRANKLIN WATER DEPARTMENT serves 443 people in FRANKLIN, Maine using Groundwater water sources. It has 104 recorded EPA violations, including 7 health-based violations. PFAS "forever chemicals" were detected in UCMR5 testing (4 compounds found).

Water Quality Snapshot: FRANKLIN WATER DEPARTMENT

FRANKLIN WATER DEPARTMENT is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 443 residents in FRANKLIN, Maine (Hancock County) through 177 service connections. Its water is drawn from groundwater sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 104 total violations for this system , of which 7 (7%) are health-based — meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 85 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2023.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Lead and Copper Rule, recorded in 20 violations (MR). Under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program, 4 PFAS compounds were detected in samples collected from this system, with a maximum reported concentration of 0.0102 ppt. PFAS are persistent synthetic chemicals linked to health effects at very low exposure levels.

Across Maine, EPA tracks 1,864 public water systems serving 936,624 people, with 148,796 cumulative violations and 23,741 health-based violations on record. About 94% of systems in the state carry at least one violation, and state-wide the average per system is 79.8 violations. FRANKLIN WATER DEPARTMENT's 104 violations sit above the Maine average. Statewide, 14 of 41 UCMR5-tested systems have reported PFAS detections (34.1%). All figures above are sourced directly from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 public data releases and are updated as EPA publishes new reporting cycles.

PFAS Detected

4 PFAS "forever chemicals" detected in testing under EPA's UCMR5 monitoring program.

Population Served

443

Total Violations

104

Health-Based Violations

Water Source

Groundwater

System Details

System Type: Community
Owner Type: Local
Connections: 177
County: Hancock
School/Daycare: No
MCL Violations: 0
Monitoring Violations: 85
Treatment Tech Violations: 7

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant	Category	Count	Latest
Lead and Copper Rule	MR	20	2022
Consumer Confidence Rule	Other	9	2023
Lead and Copper Rule	TT	7	2000
Coliform (TCR)	MR	6	1995
Asbestos	MR	4	2012
Combined Radium (-226 and -228)	MR	4	2015
Diquat	MR	4	2015
Endothall	MR	4	2015
Nitrate	MR	3	1995
Xylenes, Total	MR	2	1998
o-Dichlorobenzene	MR	2	1998
p-Dichlorobenzene	MR	2	1998
Vinyl chloride	MR	2	1998
Carbon tetrachloride	MR	2	1998
1,2-Dichloropropane	MR	2	1998
Trichloroethylene	MR	2	1998
1,1,2-Trichloroethane	MR	2	1998
Toluene	MR	2	1998
Ethylbenzene	MR	2	1998
Tetrachloroethylene	MR	2	1998
1,1-Dichloroethylene	MR	2	1998
trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene	MR	2	1998
1,1,1-Trichloroethane	MR	2	1998
1,2-Dichloroethane	MR	2	1998
Benzene	MR	2	1998
Styrene	MR	2	1998
CHLOROBENZENE	MR	2	1998
DICHLOROMETHANE	MR	2	1998
1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene	MR	1	1998
cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene	MR	1	1998

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 5 of 60 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant	Date	Result	MRL	Status
lithium	8/21/2023	<9 µg/L	9 µg/L	Not Detected
NMeFOSAA	8/21/2023	<0.006 µg/L	0.006 µg/L	Not Detected
PFTrDA	8/21/2023	<0.007 µg/L	0.007 µg/L	Not Detected
NEtFOSAA	8/21/2023	<0.005 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Not Detected
PFTA	8/21/2023	<0.008 µg/L	0.008 µg/L	Not Detected
PFEESA	2/21/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
lithium	2/21/2023	<9 µg/L	9 µg/L	Not Detected
PFBA	2/21/2023	<0.005 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Not Detected
6:2 FTS	2/21/2023	<0.005 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Not Detected
8:2 FTS	2/21/2023	<0.005 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Not Detected
PFMPA	2/21/2023	<0.004 µg/L	0.004 µg/L	Not Detected
PFPeA	2/21/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFMBA	2/21/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
4:2 FTS	2/21/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
NFDHA	2/21/2023	<0.02 µg/L	0.02 µg/L	Not Detected
PFPeS	2/21/2023	<0.004 µg/L	0.004 µg/L	Not Detected
PFHpS	2/21/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
NMeFOSAA	2/21/2023	<0.006 µg/L	0.006 µg/L	Not Detected
NEtFOSAA	2/21/2023	<0.005 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Not Detected
PFTA	2/21/2023	<0.008 µg/L	0.008 µg/L	Not Detected
PFHxA	2/21/2023	0.0060 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Detected
HFPO-DA	2/21/2023	<0.005 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Not Detected
PFTrDA	2/21/2023	<0.007 µg/L	0.007 µg/L	Not Detected
PFOS	2/21/2023	<0.004 µg/L	0.004 µg/L	Not Detected
PFHpA	2/21/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFNA	2/21/2023	<0.004 µg/L	0.004 µg/L	Not Detected
PFBS	2/21/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFOA	2/21/2023	<0.004 µg/L	0.004 µg/L	Not Detected
PFDA	2/21/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFDoA	2/21/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS	2/21/2023	<0.005 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Not Detected
PFUnA	2/21/2023	<0.002 µg/L	0.002 µg/L	Not Detected
ADONA	2/21/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS	2/21/2023	<0.002 µg/L	0.002 µg/L	Not Detected
PFHxS	2/21/2023	0.0033 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Detected
PFMBA	10/25/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFHpA	10/25/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFHpS	10/25/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFPeS	10/25/2023	<0.004 µg/L	0.004 µg/L	Not Detected
NFDHA	10/25/2023	<0.02 µg/L	0.02 µg/L	Not Detected
PFEESA	10/25/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFPeA	10/25/2023	0.0040 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Detected
PFMPA	10/25/2023	<0.004 µg/L	0.004 µg/L	Not Detected
8:2 FTS	10/25/2023	<0.005 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Not Detected
4:2 FTS	10/25/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFNA	10/25/2023	<0.004 µg/L	0.004 µg/L	Not Detected
PFHxS	10/25/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
6:2 FTS	10/25/2023	<0.005 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Not Detected
ADONA	10/25/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFBS	10/25/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected

Verify This Water System

The figures above are aggregated from EPA's public databases. To verify the underlying records — or to file a complaint, request a Consumer Confidence Report, or check current monitoring status — go directly to the federal and state regulators that enforce the Safe Drinking Water Act for FRANKLIN WATER DEPARTMENT.

Federal Source of Truth

EPA SDWIS — Federal Reports

EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) holds the federal compliance record for every regulated public water system. Open the system-level report by PWS ID:

View PWS ID ME0090570 on SDWIS

Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Reports Search

State Regulator

Maine Drinking Water Authority

Maine's primacy agency administers the Safe Drinking Water Act locally. Search EPA SDWIS for the current state contact, or use the state's public health or environment department portal.

Find ME regulator via EPA SDWIS

Violation Timeline

Each row links to the EPA SDWIS public record for verification. Cross-reference the contaminant code on EPA's federal report to see violation dates, return-to-compliance status, and enforcement actions.

Year (latest)	Contaminant	Category	Count	EPA Record
2023	Consumer Confidence Rule	Other	9	SDWIS / ME0090570 / 7000
2022	Lead and Copper Rule	MR	20	SDWIS / ME0090570 / 5000
2015	Combined Radium (-226 and -228)	MR	4	SDWIS / ME0090570 / 4010
2015	Diquat	MR	4	SDWIS / ME0090570 / 2032
2015	Endothall	MR	4	SDWIS / ME0090570 / 2033
2012	Asbestos	MR	4	SDWIS / ME0090570 / 1094
2000	Lead and Copper Rule	TT	7	SDWIS / ME0090570 / 5000
1998	Xylenes, Total	MR	2	SDWIS / ME0090570 / 2955
1998	o-Dichlorobenzene	MR	2	SDWIS / ME0090570 / 2968
1998	p-Dichlorobenzene	MR	2	SDWIS / ME0090570 / 2969
1998	Vinyl chloride	MR	2	SDWIS / ME0090570 / 2976
1998	Carbon tetrachloride	MR	2	SDWIS / ME0090570 / 2982
1998	1,2-Dichloropropane	MR	2	SDWIS / ME0090570 / 2983
1998	Trichloroethylene	MR	2	SDWIS / ME0090570 / 2984
1998	1,1,2-Trichloroethane	MR	2	SDWIS / ME0090570 / 2985

How FRANKLIN WATER DEPARTMENT Compares

Cross-reference this system's record against state averages and the federal MCL framework for context.

Metric	FRANKLIN WATER DEPARTMENT	Maine avg	Federal benchmark
Total violations	104	79.8	SDWA compliance — any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations	7	12.7	Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL
PFAS detection	4 compounds	34.1%	EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served	443	502	Sizing context for compliance burden

Sources: EPA SDWIS and EPA National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (40 CFR Part 141). State averages computed across 1,864 regulated public water systems in Maine.

Federal MCL reference — Safe Drinking Water Act thresholds ▼

Contaminant	Federal MCL / Action Level	Note
Lead	0 mg/L (Action Level: 0.015 mg/L)	Lead and Copper Rule treatment technique
Arsenic	0.010 mg/L (10 ppb)	Health-based MCL since 2006
Total Coliform	Treatment technique (RTCR)	Indicator organism, monitoring trigger
PFOA / PFOS (PFAS)	4.0 ppt each (final 2024 rule)	Compliance deadline 2029
Nitrate (as N)	10 mg/L	Acute health risk for infants

Frequently Asked Questions

Is FRANKLIN WATER DEPARTMENT water safe to drink? ▼

FRANKLIN WATER DEPARTMENT (PWS ID: ME0090570) has 104 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 4 PFAS compounds found. This system serves 443 people using Groundwater sources.

How many people does FRANKLIN WATER DEPARTMENT serve? ▼

FRANKLIN WATER DEPARTMENT serves 443 people in FRANKLIN, Maine. It is a Local-owned system using Groundwater water sources with 177 service connections.

What type of violations does FRANKLIN WATER DEPARTMENT have? ▼

FRANKLIN WATER DEPARTMENT has 104 total violations: 7 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 85 monitoring/reporting violations, and 7 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.

Has PFAS been detected in FRANKLIN WATER DEPARTMENT water? ▼

Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 4 PFAS compounds in FRANKLIN WATER DEPARTMENT's water supply: PFHxA, PFHxS, PFPeA, PFBA. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.

What water source does FRANKLIN WATER DEPARTMENT use? ▼

FRANKLIN WATER DEPARTMENT uses Groundwater as its primary water source. It is classified as a Community Water System (CWS), serving residential populations year-round.

Where does this data come from? ▼

All data comes from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and the UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program. SDWIS tracks compliance for all public water systems regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act.

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Data Sources: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS), Q4 2025. PFAS data from EPA UCMR5 monitoring program (2023-2025). This data is provided for informational purposes only.

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