Residents of the Friendly Village of Gorham Mobile Home Park received unwelcome news last month regarding their water supply: recent testing revealed PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) levels at 20.1 parts per trillion (ppt). The result exceeds the risk threshold employed by Maine and numerous other states.
PFAS are a large group of synthetic chemicals that have been used in industrial and consumer product applications since the 1940s. Research over the past two decades has raised concerns about the health effects of these “forever chemicals,” which persist indefinitely in the environment and have been found to accumulate in body tissues. The chemicals can make their way into water systems via runoff from industrial and agricultural sites, landfills, fire training and response sites, and similar sources.
Maine state regulations require all public water systems to regularly sample and test their water to ensure that it meets federal and state drinking water standards for a range of contaminants. In 2021, the State Legislature addressed the issue of PFAS contamination in drinking water, enacting a law that imposed a standard of 20 ppt in public water supplies for the combined sum of six different PFAS for which the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency had established maximum contaminant levels (PFOA, PFOS, PFHpA, PFNA, PFDA, and PFHxS).
The Friendly Village water supply, which comes from two on-site wells and serves some 760 residents, is classified as a public water system and is therefore regulated by the Safe Drinking Water Act and Maine Drinking Water Program. In 2022, 2023, and 2024, Friendly Village reported PFAS levels of 15.2, 3.7, and 2.2 ppt, respectively.
According to a Dec. 23 email sent to residents from the office of John Richard, Friendly Village’s licensed water operator, a professional water services firm has been engaged to help research and evaluate options to resolve the issue, with possible actions including treating the water to remove PFAS contaminants and/or drilling new wells. A resolution is anticipated by mid 2027. For now, the email advised residents to “consider actions that may reduce your exposure to PFAS by using either bottled water or another alternative water sources that has been verified as PFAS-free, or water that has been filtered through a device capable of reducing PFAS to non-detectable levels for drinking and cooking purposes.”
Friendly Village residents, whose lot rent fees include water provision, voiced concerns over the projected time to resolution of the issue and the additional expense they will bear in having to supply themselves with safe potable water in the meantime. While point-of-use filters such as granulated activated carbon, ion exchange resin, and reverse osmosis systems can greatly reduce PFAS levels, these solutions involve varying levels of cost and maintenance.
The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that Maine residents served by private wells routinely test their water for a variety of potential contaminants. Information about recommendations for water testing and treatment can be found at https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/healthy-living/health-and-safety/drinking-water-safety/private-well-water or by contacting the Maine CDC’s Toxicology Team by email (ehu@maine.gov) or phone (207) 287-4311.