Well Water Testing in Maine
About half of Maine households drink from a private well, and no agency tests that water for you. Maine CDC recommends testing well water every year for bacteria and nitrates, and running a full panel of contaminants every three to five years. HarborLight collects your samples, NELAnalytical analyzes them in the laboratory, and you get a professional report with your results and clear recommendations. Assessment only: we do not sell filtration systems or treatment equipment, so our findings carry no sales incentive.
The Full Well Water Panel
Most well owners test for one or two things and miss the rest. Maine wells can carry naturally occurring arsenic and uranium from bedrock, lead from plumbing, bacteria from surface water, and PFAS near old farms, landfills, and industrial sites. A full panel covers all of it in one visit: total coliform and E. coli bacteria, nitrates and nitrites, arsenic, uranium, lead and copper, iron and manganese, fluoride, pH, hardness, sodium, chloride, magnesium, total dissolved solids, turbidity, PFAS, radon in water, VOCs and petroleum compounds, and pesticides and herbicides. One visit, one chain of custody, one report that tells you what is in your water and what to do about it.
Water Testing Packages
Prices include laboratory analysis and your professional report.
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Annual Well Water Safety Test — $175–$225. Total coliform, E. coli, nitrates and nitrites. Ideal for annual homeowner testing. Launching January 2027.
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Comprehensive Maine Private Well Assessment — $325–$425. The full Maine CDC-recommended panel: bacteria, arsenic, uranium, lead and copper, iron and manganese, fluoride, pH, hardness, sodium, chloride, magnesium, total dissolved solids, and turbidity. Launching January 2027.
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Complete Well + Radon Water Assessment — $425–$525. The comprehensive panel plus radon in water. Available February 2027, once Maine radon-in-water authorization is confirmed.
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PFAS Specialty Water Screening — $450–$700. Specialized PFAS-free sample collection, chain of custody, and analysis by Nova EnviroLabs, a Portland laboratory fully accredited by the Maine Drinking Water Program for EPA Method 533 PFAS testing, screening for 25 PFAS including Maine's six regulated compounds. Available March 2027.
​Our Laboratory — NELAnalytical
All water samples are analyzed by NELAnalytical (Northeast Laboratory Services), our primary water testing laboratory and a Maine-accredited laboratory. NELAnalytical is a Maine-based, fully accredited environmental testing laboratory with locations in Westbrook (120 Main Street) and Winslow, and 50 years of experience serving Maine homeowners and home inspectors. Water testing services available through NELAnalytical include: total coliform and E. coli bacteria; nitrates and nitrites; arsenic; uranium; lead and copper; iron and manganese; fluoride; pH, hardness, sodium, chloride, calcium, magnesium, and total dissolved solids; and radon in water. PFAS analysis is performed by Nova EnviroLabs of Portland, Maine, a laboratory specializing in PFAS testing and fully accredited by the Maine Drinking Water Program for EPA Method 533.
School & Childcare Water Testing
Children drink from school and childcare taps every day. Maine law required every K-12 school to test its drinking water for lead, and about 9% tested above the 4 ppb action level; PFAS testing was also mandated, and about 10% tested above Maine's 20 ppt interim standard. The EPA and CDC agree there is no known safe level of lead in children. For K-12 schools we provide first-draw lead testing of every drinking and culinary fixture, per 22 MRSA 2604-B, plus PFAS testing of finished drinking water. For childcare facilities we provide well-water panels covering fluoride, uranium, arsenic, first-draw lead, nitrates, and total coliform, per Maine childcare licensing rules, with annual coliform and nitrate testing, a full panel every five years, and a first-draw lead sample for facilities on municipal water. We also screen annually for chipped or peeling paint, with follow-up by a Maine-certified lead inspector or risk assessor if needed. Our process is scope and schedule, first-draw sample collection, laboratory analysis, and a professional report with fixture-by-fixture results in plain language. Radon in water sampling and a full well-water panel are available as add-ons.
Our Process
1. Consultation and scope. We confirm which panel fits your well, your concerns, and any lender or transaction requirements. 2. Sample collection. We collect samples at the tap using sterile bacteria sampling, first-draw lead collection, and proper flushing protocols, with a signed chain of custody. 3. Laboratory analysis. Samples go to NELAnalytical for analysis, with holding times and shipping handled to the lab's requirements. 4. Professional report. You receive your lab results with a plain-language summary, comparison to EPA and Maine standards, and recommendations on next steps.
Credentials
Maine Lead Inspector LI-0526 and Lead Risk Assessor LR-0432. NRPP Radon Measurement Professional 116213-RMP. Maine DEP Asbestos Inspector AI-1021. EPA Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) certified. InterNACHI Certified Professional Inspector.
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Assessment and reporting only: HarborLight does not remediate its own findings or sell treatment equipment. Serving all of Maine.
Schedule a Water Testing Consultation
Call (207) 245-4688 or email mike@harborlightinspections.com. Schedule here: https://calendly.com/harborlightinspections/initial-inspection-consult