Maine county well guide

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

About 14,536 households in Hancock County, 67% of the county, rely on a private well. Nobody tests that water unless the owner does.

Labs within 40 milesLicensed contractors
67%of households on a private well
Share on wells, county vs state
Hancock County67%
Maine average50%
11licensed contractors serve the county
37 mito the nearest certified lab, ClearWater Laboratory (a division of Acheron Engineering)
Nostatewide test required when a home is sold

In Hancock County, roughly 67% of households, about 14,536 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 Hancock County

The rules that apply in Hancock 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 Hancock County

The nearest certified lab is ClearWater Laboratory (a division of Acheron Engineering) in Newport, about 37 miles from the county center, and it accepts samples from homeowners. Mail-in kits fill the gap for anything it does not run.

1 certified labs within 40 miles

Licensed well contractors serving Hancock County

Licensed help in Hancock County includes Carmel Well Drilling Company LLC and Forest Pump & Filter Co Inc and 9 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 Hancock County follow the rock underneath it. Typical wells here run 180 to 320 feet; the median of 4,894 domestic wells in the Maine Geological Survey well database drilled since 2000 is 260 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

180 to 320 feet; the median of 4,894 domestic wells in the Maine Geological Survey well database drilled since 2000 is 260 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: Waldo County, Penobscot County, Knox County, Washington County.

What well work costs in Hancock 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 Hancock County well owners ask

How many homes in Hancock County are on a well?

About 14,536, or 67% 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 Hancock County?

ClearWater Laboratory (a division of Acheron Engineering) in Newport, about 37 miles away. It accepts homeowner samples.

Do I need a permit to drill a well in Hancock 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 Hancock 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.