The Maine Bureau of Health recommends testing all household wells for arsenic. That’s because the toxic chemical is impossible to see, smell or taste, even at levels that exceed the state standard.
Contact the state’s Health and Environmental Testing Laboratory at (207) 287-2727 for information on how to test a well. Free advice on interpreting test results is available at (866) 292-3474.
When well water contains arsenic at a level exceeding 10 parts per billion, state officials advise people to reduce consumption. Drinking bottled water is a good option, officials say.
That provides time to decide whether to have a well treated.
The state recommends that well owners with high levels of arsenic consult multiple water treatment companies. The proper treatment system depends on the amount of water to be treated and the other chemicals present.
State officials advise testing for arsenic at least once a year after the installation of any treatment system.
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On the Net:
Well water quality in Maine: http://www.maine.gov/dhs/ehu/
Maine drinking water program: http://www.maine.gov/dhs/eng/water/
AP-ES-11-16-03 1316EST
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