Maine county well guide

Well Water in Cumberland County, ME: Testing, Contractors and Rules

About 47,734 households in Cumberland County, 41% of the county, rely on a private well. Nobody tests that water unless the owner does.

Labs within 40 milesLicensed contractors
41%of households on a private well
Share on wells, county vs state
Cumberland County41%
Maine average50%
35licensed contractors serve the county
<1 mito the nearest certified lab, Nova Analytic Labs (Nova EnviroLabs)
Nostatewide test required when a home is sold

In Cumberland County, roughly 41% of households, about 47,734 homes, draw their water from a private well. Nobody tests it, treats it or inspects it unless the owner does.

Local rules for wells in Cumberland County

The rules that apply in Cumberland County are set at the state level in Maine. The state does not require a test on a new well, and nothing is required at sale. Some counties and townships add permits or setbacks of their own, so check locally before drilling. The state's own recommendations are below.

At a glance

Water test for a new wellNot required statewide

No statewide water test and no state permit for a household well. The well must be drilled by a Maine licensed well drilling company using a licensed driller, to the Commission's construction rules (steel casing at least 20 ft and seated into bedrock, a sanitary cap, and a well cap above grade), and sited under the subsurface wastewater rules (100 ft from a septic disposal field, 50 ft from a septic tank). The driller files a well completion report with the Maine Geological Survey. A few towns require a bacteria test before a certificate of occupancy, and lenders usually do.

Water test when a home is soldNot required statewide

No statewide requirement. Maine's residential property disclosure form asks whether the water supply is a private well, when it was last tested and whether any test found a problem, so a recent test is expected in practice, and FHA, VA and USDA loans normally require a bacteria, nitrate and lead sample from an accredited lab before closing.

What the state recommends

Maine CDC recommends testing a private well every year for coliform bacteria and nitrate, and every three to five years for arsenic, uranium, radon, fluoride and manganese, the five contaminants Maine's bedrock wells carry most often (about one in ten wells is over the arsenic standard, and radon in water is higher in Maine than almost anywhere in the country). The standard Maine well water kit covers all of these plus lead, iron, hardness and pH. Test again after flooding, well work, hydrofracturing or a change in taste, color or smell.

Free or low-cost testingAvailable

No statewide free program, but a cheap and simple one: the state Health and Environmental Testing Laboratory in Augusta sells the standard well water kit through town offices, plumbing supply stores and by mail, with the bacteria, nitrate, arsenic, uranium, fluoride and metals panel for well under $100 and radon as an add-on, and Maine CDC explains the results. Several counties and tribal health programs run periodic free arsenic screening.

Getting your water tested near Cumberland County

The nearest certified lab is Nova Analytic Labs (Nova EnviroLabs) in Portland, in the county. There are 4 more within 40 miles, listed below with what each tests for.

5 certified labs within 40 miles

Licensed well contractors serving Cumberland County

Licensed help in Cumberland County includes A-Z Water Systems Inc and Adelbert H Dunn DBA Del Dunn and 33 others. Every listing was matched to the Maine license list; the "verify" link on each profile opens the state lookup.

Well depth and water chemistry

Well depth and water chemistry in Cumberland County follow the rock underneath it. Typical wells here run 220 to 480 feet; the median of 6,713 domestic wells in the Maine Geological Survey well database drilled since 2000 is 330 feet. Contaminants worth testing for in this part of Maine include arsenic (naturally occurring in bedrock across central and southern maine, worst in the augusta to bangor corridor and the midcoast), radon in water (granitic bedrock statewide, especially the southwest).

Typical well depth

220 to 480 feet; the median of 6,713 domestic wells in the Maine Geological Survey well database drilled since 2000 is 330 feet

Contaminants to test for
  • Arsenic (naturally occurring in bedrock across central and southern Maine
  • Worst in the Augusta to Bangor corridor and the midcoast)
  • Radon in water (granitic bedrock statewide
  • Especially the southwest)
  • Uranium (granite in the same areas)
  • Manganese and iron (bedrock and overburden wells)
  • Fluoride (locally high in bedrock)
  • Coliform bacteria (dug wells and older drilled wells)
  • Hardness
  • Sodium and chloride (road salt near highways
  • Saltwater along the coast)
  • Nitrate (shallow wells in farm country
  • The Aroostook potato belt)
  • PFAS (near sludge-spread farmland in Fairfield and central Maine
  • And airfields)

Neighboring counties: Androscoggin County, Sagadahoc County, York County, Oxford County.

What well work costs in Cumberland County

Basic bacteria and nitrate test$25 to $75lab fee, homeowner sample
Full panel lab test$150 to $400metals, VOCs, radiologicals
Well inspection$250 to $550flow, pressure, visual, water test
Submersible pump replacement$1,200 to $4,500parts and labor
Pressure tank replacement$400 to $1,200installed
Whole-house treatment system$800 to $6,000softener, iron filter, UV, RO
New well drilled$5,500 to $25,000about $25 to $65 per foot
Shock chlorination$80 to $300or about $20 as a DIY job

National ranges from published 2025 to 2026 contractor pricing. Local quotes vary with depth, access and materials.

Questions Cumberland County well owners ask

How many homes in Cumberland County are on a well?

About 47,734, or 41% of households, based on Census housing data and state well surveys. The share is highest outside the towns with public water.

Where is the closest certified lab to Cumberland County?

Nova Analytic Labs (Nova EnviroLabs) in Portland, inside the county. Call first to ask whether they accept homeowner samples.

Do I need a permit to drill a well in Cumberland County?

No statewide water test and no state permit for a household well. The well must be drilled by a Maine licensed well drilling company using a licensed driller, to the Commission's construction rules (steel casing at least 20 ft and seated into bedrock, a sanitary cap, and a well cap above grade), and sited under the subsurface wastewater rules (100 ft from a septic disposal field, 50 ft from a septic tank). The driller files a well completion report with the Maine Geological Survey. A few towns require a bacteria test before a certificate of occupancy, and lenders usually do.

What does a well test cost near Cumberland County?

A bacteria and nitrate test runs $25 to $75 at most certified labs; a full panel with metals is $150 to $400. Mail-in kits cost about the same as walking in.