The Maine Center for Disease Control & Prevention recommends that residents test their well water for arsenic at least every five years. Following recent state legislation, money is now available to help clean and test drinking water.

Arsenic is known to cause cancer, and is a major concern in well water in the state of Maine. Drinking arsenic contaminated water can lead to bladder, kidney, lung, skin and other forms of cancer. Arsenic is also known to decrease intelligence and memory in developing children, potentially reducing your child’s ability to succeed in school.

Arsenic is tasteless and odorless. Concentrations of measured arsenic vary throughout the state. Some water wells tested in Maine were over 50 times higher than the maximum “safe” concentration.

For more information, call the Maine CDC public information line at 207-287-4311 or visitwww.wellwater.maine.gov.