Well Water in Somerset County, Maine
Somerset County · Population ~51,000 (county) · Aquifer: Bedrock / Kennebec River Valley
Somerset County in central Maine is one of the most heavily impacted areas in the state's PFAS crisis. The county's agricultural history — including widespread application of treated sewage sludge on farmland — has left a legacy of PFAS contamination in groundwater that is still being uncovered. Combined with the bedrock arsenic issues common across Maine, well owners here face a double threat.
PFAS from Sludge-Spread Farms
Somerset County was one of the areas in Maine where biosolids spreading on farmland was most prevalent. The practice was promoted as beneficial recycling — turning waste into fertilizer. But the sludge contained PFAS, and those chemicals are now in the groundwater.
Multiple farms in the Fairfield, Skowhegan, and Madison areas have been identified as sludge-application sites. The Maine DEP is investigating these sites and offering free PFAS testing for nearby wells.
PFAS are called "forever chemicals" because they don't break down in the environment. Once they're in groundwater, they stay. Treatment options exist but are more expensive than standard water treatment.
See our PFAS guide for the complete story.
Arsenic in Bedrock
Beneath the PFAS problem, Somerset County has the same bedrock arsenic issues as the rest of central Maine. Wells drilled into granitic and metamorphic formations commonly show elevated arsenic.
The cruel irony: a Somerset County well owner may need to treat for both PFAS and arsenic — two very different contaminants requiring different treatment approaches. Reverse osmosis is effective for both, making it the most practical single-system solution.
What to Do
If you're on a private well in Somerset County:
- Check the Maine DEP PFAS map to see if your property is near a known sludge-application site
- Get free arsenic testing through the Maine CDC
- Request PFAS testing through Maine DEP if you're near a known site
- Test for bacteria, manganese, and uranium as well
See our testing guide for all options.
Every well is different. Two wells on the same street can produce completely different water. The data on this page reflects documented conditions in the Somerset County area, but the only way to know what's in your water is to test it.
Sources
- Maine DEP — PFAS in Biosolids Investigation
- Maine CDC — Well Water Testing Resources
- Maine Geological Survey — Arsenic Data by Town
- Bangor Daily News — PFAS Contamination in Somerset County