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. EPA SDWIS lists this system's service population as 443 people using Groundwater sources.

How many people does Franklin Water Department serve?

EPA SDWIS reports that Franklin Water Department serves 443 people (this public water system's service population, not the municipal population of Franklin or any other city). It is a Local-owned system using Groundwater water sources with 177 service connections. The operator address is listed in Franklin, Maine.

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.

How does Franklin Water Department's violation count compare nationally?

Franklin Water Department has 104 recorded EPA SDWIS violations, fewer than 26% of the 29,740 public water systems serving 500 or more people nationwide (the same sitemap cohort used for the corpus-placement ranking above). 74% of that cohort has fewer violations than Franklin Water Department. A system can have zero recorded violations and still be actively monitored, and a high violation count often reflects a system that reports thoroughly, not necessarily one with worse water.

States → Maine

Community Water System · PWS ME0090570

Franklin Water Department

Operator location Franklin, Maine - smaller served population (≤ 999) at 443 people served; 104 SDWIS violations on record from groundwater sources.

Compiled by PlainWater · May 15, 2026

443
People served (this PWS) Smaller third of systems: 104
EPA violations (this PWS) Upper third of systems: 7
Health-based (this PWS) Middle third by health-based share: 4 PFAS
UCMR5 (this PWS) Middle third of PFAS-detected systems

Follow published updates (RSS)

Franklin Water Department standing, high SDWIS violation third

443 people served (SDWIS) - smaller served population (≤ 999). Corpus terciles use 29,740 systems serving 500+ (the sitemap cohort). Health-based share 7% is middle-third health share (≤ 23%). UCMR5: middle-third PFAS panel (≤ 4 compounds).

The verdict

Franklin Water Department sits in the upper third of the sitemap cohort by violation count (104), so the tables below sample a dense compliance trail rather than a near-clean ledger. Population served is smaller (443; smaller served population (≤ 999)), so each violation row represents a compact service footprint. Health-based share is 7% (middle-third health share (≤ 23%)). UCMR5 detected 4 PFAS compounds (middle-third PFAS panel (≤ 4 compounds)).

104
Total EPA violations on record: 7%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure): 443
People served by this PWS (SDWIS): 4
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Population ordinals match the sitemap cohort (systems serving 500+, population_served DESC). See methodology · corpus placement.

PFAS Detected

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

Water Safety Score

30/100

Franklin Water Department

Based on EPA SDWIS violation history and UCMR5 PFAS testing only, not water taste, odor, infrastructure age, or contaminants outside the federally tracked set.

Health-based violations F

EPA SDWIS health-based violations on record (MCL, MRDL, treatment technique)

Monitoring & reporting violations F

Non-health SDWIS violations (monitoring, reporting, and other compliance)

PFAS contamination D

0.0102 µg/L

Highest PFAS compound level detected in UCMR5 testing

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

Violation Count vs. the National Corpus

Franklin Water Department has 104 recorded EPA violations, 74% of the 29,740 public water systems serving 500+ people nationwide carry fewer, and 26% carry more. 7% of this system's own violations are health-based (7 of 104), and it ranks unranked by population served among that same cohort.

EPA violations vs. the national water-system corpus

Public water systems serving 500+ people (EPA SDWIS)

104 Around the middle fewer violations than 26% of 29,740 water systems

the national water-system corpus, bucketed by value

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more water systems. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source EPA SDWIS · 2026-05-15

How many violations vs. how serious, among peer systems

Franklin Water Department plotted against 29 peer public water systems (500+ people served), by total violation count (x) and the share of those violations that are health-based (y). The crosshair sits at this sample's own median on each axis. A high violation count does not automatically mean a serious record: most monitoring and reporting violations are minor, not health-based.

30 public water systems (500+ people served), EPA SDWIS current release.

How to read this

Each dot is one public water system; the highlighted dot is Franklin Water Department. A system to the right has more recorded violations; a system higher up has a larger share of those violations classified health-based rather than monitoring or reporting.

Rare but serious: few violations, but most of them are health-based.
Frequent, mostly paperwork: many violations, but mostly monitoring or reporting, not health-based.
Clean record: below-median on both counts, the tinted corner.

View all 30 systems as a list

City of Ballinger: 372 violations, 85% health-based
Nooksack Valley Water Association: 16 violations, 31% health-based
Montgomery Co RWD 12: 7 violations, 29% health-based
Irvin Water District #6: 11 violations, 27% health-based
Ticonderoga WD: 47 violations, 26% health-based
Pine Valley Plantation: 37 violations, 24% health-based
McLouth, City Of: 29 violations, 17% health-based
Kipling Oaks 1: 25 violations, 16% health-based
South Deerfield Water Supply District: 96 violations, 16% health-based
Sunset Ridge Water District: 82 violations, 15% health-based
Orange Water Dept: 136 violations, 14% health-based
Mount Pleasant Water Sys #1: 167 violations, 11% health-based
Franklin Water Department: 104 violations, 7% health-based (this system)
Lake Gibson Estates: 42 violations, 2% health-based
Benson Culinary Improvement District: 212 violations, 1% health-based
Conemaugh Twp Muni Auth: 567 violations, 1% health-based
Miccosukee Service Plaza: 0 violations, 0% health-based
Brazoria - Fort Bend Counties MUD 3: 0 violations, 0% health-based
Tanglewilde Thompson Place 600: 2 violations, 0% health-based
Center Water Co: 5 violations, 0% health-based
Spring Mills Elem School/Hvs: 9 violations, 0% health-based
Great Bend Industrial Park: 14 violations, 0% health-based
Glen Park Village: 19 violations, 0% health-based
Camp Is-Sho-Da: 22 violations, 0% health-based
Hamilton: 33 violations, 0% health-based
Town of Welaka: 54 violations, 0% health-based
Township of Blairstown Dpw: 61 violations, 0% health-based
McIntosh Water & Fire Pro Authority: 71 violations, 0% health-based
Clarkdale Municipal Water System: 114 violations, 0% health-based
Eureka Water Association: 273 violations, 0% health-based

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 5 of 58 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant	Date	Result	MRL	Status
NMeFOSAA	8/21/2023	<6.00 ppt	6.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFTrDA	8/21/2023	<7.00 ppt	7.00 ppt	Not Detected
NEtFOSAA	8/21/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFTA	8/21/2023	<8.00 ppt	8.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFEESA	2/21/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFBA	2/21/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
6:2 FTS	2/21/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
8:2 FTS	2/21/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFMPA	2/21/2023	<4.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFPeA	2/21/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFMBA	2/21/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
4:2 FTS	2/21/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
NFDHA	2/21/2023	<20.00 ppt	20.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFPeS	2/21/2023	<4.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFHpS	2/21/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
NMeFOSAA	2/21/2023	<6.00 ppt	6.00 ppt	Not Detected
NEtFOSAA	2/21/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFTA	2/21/2023	<8.00 ppt	8.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFHxA	2/21/2023	6.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Detected
HFPO-DA	2/21/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFTrDA	2/21/2023	<7.00 ppt	7.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFOS	2/21/2023	<4.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFHpA	2/21/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFNA	2/21/2023	<4.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFBS	2/21/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFOA	2/21/2023	<4.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFDA	2/21/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFDoA	2/21/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS	2/21/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFUnA	2/21/2023	<2.00 ppt	2.00 ppt	Not Detected
ADONA	2/21/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS	2/21/2023	<2.00 ppt	2.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFHxS	2/21/2023	3.30 ppt	3.00 ppt	Detected
PFMBA	10/25/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFHpA	10/25/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFHpS	10/25/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFPeS	10/25/2023	<4.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Not Detected
NFDHA	10/25/2023	<20.00 ppt	20.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFEESA	10/25/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFPeA	10/25/2023	4.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Detected
PFMPA	10/25/2023	<4.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Not Detected
8:2 FTS	10/25/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
4:2 FTS	10/25/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFNA	10/25/2023	<4.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFHxS	10/25/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
6:2 FTS	10/25/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
ADONA	10/25/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFBS	10/25/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFOS	10/25/2023	<4.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Not Detected
HFPO-DA	10/25/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected

Population served record for Franklin Water Department

EPA SDWIS lists 443 people served and 177 connections for this PWS, confirm the service-area footprint on the federal report before comparing to municipal census totals.

EPA SDWIS · PWS ME0090570

Sources: EPA SDWIS

Nationwide peers

104 violations · 443 served: nearest cross-state SDWIS matches.

Cross-state systems with comparable violation load

Nearest cross-state community systems (500+ served) by total SDWIS violations on record.

4 peers

What to do with Franklin Water Department

Use this system's EPA-reported record as a starting filter, not a final verdict.

See how every tracked system in Maine compares on the same EPA violation measures. Maine systems
Check whether PFAS was detected at this system under UCMR5 testing. PFAS guide
Find and compare another public water system by name or PWSID. Search systems

EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 figures are informational only, not a substitute for a certified lab test of your own tap water.

Data sourced from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 PFAS monitoring data. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainWater

Compiled by PlainWater, Drinking Water Quality Editorial Process · May 15, 2026

Every figure on PlainWater is rendered directly from EPA SDWIS drinking-water data, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.