Community Water System · PWS ME0091410
Sanford Water District
Sanford, Maine 04073 - drinking water served from groundwater sources to 14,328 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.
- 14,328
- People served
- 45
- EPA violations
- 36
- Health-based
- 7 PFAS
- UCMR5 result
The verdict
EPA records 45 drinking-water violations at Sanford Water District, 80% of them health-based - below the Maine per-system average, and UCMR5 testing detected 7 PFAS compounds.
- 45
- Total EPA violations on record
- 80%
- Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
- 14,328
- People served by this system
- 7
- PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)
Water Quality Snapshot: Sanford Water District
Sanford Water District is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 14,328 residents in Sanford, Maine (York County) through 5,733 service connections. Its water is drawn from groundwater sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 45 total violations for this system , of which 36 (80%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 8 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2014.
The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Coliform (TCR), recorded in 36 violations (MCL, health-based). Under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program, 7 PFAS compounds were detected in samples collected from this system, with a maximum reported concentration of 10.7 ppt (parts per trillion). 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. Statewide, 14 of 41 UCMR5-tested systems have reported PFAS detections (34.1%).
Sanford Water District's 45 violations sit below the Maine average.
All figures above are sourced directly from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 public data releases and are updated as EPA publishes new reporting cycles.
7 PFAS "forever chemicals" detected in testing under EPA's UCMR5 monitoring program.
System Details
- System Type
- Community
- Owner Type
- Local
- Connections
- 5,733
- County
- York
- School/Daycare
- No
- MCL Violations
- 36
- Monitoring Violations
- 8
- Treatment Tech Violations
- 0
Violation History
Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.
| Contaminant | Category | Count | Latest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coliform (TCR) | MCL | 36 | 2007 |
| TTHM | MR | 4 | 2014 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | MR | 4 | 2014 |
PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)
Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 16 of 348 samples detected PFAS.
| Contaminant | Date | Result | MRL | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6:2 FTS | 8/12/2024 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 4:2 FTS | 8/12/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 8:2 FTS | 8/12/2024 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFMPA | 8/12/2024 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFPeA | 8/12/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFMBA | 8/12/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFEESA | 8/12/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFHpS | 8/12/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFBA | 8/12/2024 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFOS | 8/12/2024 | 7.10 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Detected |
| NFDHA | 8/12/2024 | <20.00 ppt | 20.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| HFPO-DA | 8/12/2024 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| ADONA | 8/12/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 9Cl-PF3ONS | 8/12/2024 | <2.00 ppt | 2.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 11Cl-PF3OUdS | 8/12/2024 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFUnA | 8/12/2024 | <2.00 ppt | 2.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFHxA | 8/12/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFDoA | 8/12/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFOA | 8/12/2024 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFNA | 8/12/2024 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFHxS | 8/12/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFHpA | 8/12/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFBS | 8/12/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFPeS | 8/12/2024 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFDA | 8/12/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFUnA | 8/12/2024 | <2.00 ppt | 2.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFPeS | 8/12/2024 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFBA | 8/12/2024 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 11Cl-PF3OUdS | 8/12/2024 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 9Cl-PF3ONS | 8/12/2024 | <2.00 ppt | 2.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| ADONA | 8/12/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| HFPO-DA | 8/12/2024 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 6:2 FTS | 8/12/2024 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 4:2 FTS | 8/12/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 8:2 FTS | 8/12/2024 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFMPA | 8/12/2024 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFPeA | 8/12/2024 | 9.20 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Detected |
| PFMBA | 8/12/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| NFDHA | 8/12/2024 | <20.00 ppt | 20.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFBS | 8/12/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFEESA | 8/12/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFHpA | 8/12/2024 | 3.90 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Detected |
| PFHpS | 8/12/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFHxS | 8/12/2024 | 3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Detected |
| PFHxA | 8/12/2024 | 6.70 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Detected |
| PFNA | 8/12/2024 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFOS | 8/12/2024 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFOA | 8/12/2024 | 5.60 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Detected |
| PFDA | 8/12/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFDoA | 8/12/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | 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 Sanford Water District.
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 ME0091410 on SDWISSource: EPA SDWIS Federal Reports Search
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 SDWISViolation 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | TTHM | MR | 4 | SDWIS / ME0091410 / 2950 |
| 2014 | Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | MR | 4 | SDWIS / ME0091410 / 2456 |
| 2007 | Coliform (TCR) | MCL | 36 | SDWIS / ME0091410 / 3100 |
How Sanford Water District Compares
Cross-reference this system's record against state averages and the federal MCL framework for context.
| Metric | Sanford Water District | Maine avg | Federal benchmark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total violations | 45 | 79.8 | SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach |
| Health-based violations | 36 | 12.7 | Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL |
| PFAS detection | 7 compounds | 34.1% | EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt |
| Population served | 14,328 | 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 (EPA proposed extending to 2031, not yet final as of May 2026) |
| Nitrate (as N) | 10 mg/L | Acute health risk for infants |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sanford Water District water safe to drink? ▼
How many people does Sanford Water District serve? ▼
What type of violations does Sanford Water District have? ▼
Has PFAS been detected in Sanford Water District water? ▼
What water source does Sanford Water District use? ▼
Where does this data come from? ▼
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Every figure on PlainWater is rendered directly from EPA SDWIS drinking-water data, no number is typed in by an editor. This system's figures are rendered directly from EPA SDWIS data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.