Maine private well rules

Who licenses well work in Maine

Maine CDC says private wells are not regulated, and property owners are responsible for testing and treating their own well water.

Under Maine's well licensing law, wells a property owner builds on their own land for private use are left out of the definition of a regulated water well, as are dug wells.

Maine law has the Commission require the contractor who builds or deepens a drinking water well to record its depth, yield in gallons per minute, date and the contractor's name in a permanent way.

Sources: Maine Water Well Commission; Private wells are not regulated; Owner-built wells fall outside the law; Well record left with the well

Who may work on a well pump

In Maine, no one may install, replace or repair a pump in a water well unless licensed with the Maine Water Well Commission. Licensed pump installers must display a Commission seal on each side of their vehicle.

A Maine licensed master plumber may do pump installer work without a separate Commission license.

A licensed pump installer must work under a licensed pump installation company, and that company license is valid only while it employs at least one licensed master pump installer.

Sources: License needed to install or repair a pump; Installers work under a licensed company

Does the state require well testing?

Maine CDC says well owners should test every year for coliform bacteria, E. coli, nitrates and nitrites, with less frequent tests for arsenic, radon, uranium, lead and other chemicals.

Maine CDC also recommends testing when buying a new home, after installing or changing water treatment, and after any work is done on the well.

Maine law requires landlords of residential buildings to test each private drinking water well serving tenants every 5 years (starting January 1, 2022) for arsenic and the other contaminants on the state's uniform testing list, through a certified lab, and give tenants the results within 10 days.

Maine law directs the state to keep a uniform list of what private wells should be tested for, including arsenic, bacteria, nitrates, uranium, manganese, fluoride and radon.

Sources: Yearly basic test; Landlords must test for arsenic; State testing recommendation

Getting your water tested in Maine

Maine's Health and Environmental Testing Laboratory in Augusta sells private well water test kits. Samples must reach the lab within 30 hours of collection, and the lab does not collect samples on Fridays, weekends or the day before a holiday.

State law has the state lab collect an extra fee of no more than $10 on each private well water test order, which goes to a fund for more private well testing.

Maine CDC answers questions about what to test for and what results mean at no charge. Low-income owners can ask about a test kit through its online form.

Sources: State lab sells private well test kits; Private well fee; Free help reading results

Disinfecting a well

Maine CDC recommends shock chlorination when a water system has coliform or E. coli bacteria, but says a damaged casing, seal or pitless adapter needs a licensed water professional because chlorine alone will not fix it.

For a typical six-inch bedrock well, Maine CDC's chart calls for 1 quart of liquid bleach for a 50 foot well, 2 quarts for 150 feet and 3 quarts for 250 feet.

Leave the chlorinated water in the well and plumbing for at least 12 hours; Maine CDC recommends 24 hours.

Wait at least one week, then have the water tested for coliform and E. coli bacteria by a state-accredited lab. After a third positive test, Maine CDC says to have a well professional evaluate the well.

Source: When to shock a well

Plugging an unused well

Maine law has the Commission set rules for ordering a well abandoned when it is contaminated or was built in violation of standards, cannot be repaired, and threatens health or groundwater.

Maine's license exams for well drillers and pump installers cover how water wells are abandoned.

Source: Commission can order abandonment

Checking a contractor's license

The Commission publishes a list of licensed well drillers and pump installers, and a list of licensed companies, on its web page.

Maine's Drinking Water Program tells homeowners to ask whether the driller is licensed and in good standing before hiring, and says drillers and pump installers are licensed by the Maine Well Drillers Commission.

Complaints about a well or pump job go to the Commission in writing within 24 months of finishing the work.

Sources: Published license list; Check the license first; Complaints within 24 months