Hardness
Soft
3.2 PPM · 0.2 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Fairfield, ME 04937
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Somerset County.
2 active health-based violations
- Primary matched system
- Kennebec Water District
- Source water
- Surface water + Groundwater
- County
- Somerset County
- Profile updated
At a glance
What the current records say
EPA quarter 2026Q2
Compliance screen
Review needed
2 active health-based records
Lead 90th percentile
0 mg/L
0% of action level
Utility match
4 systems
Serves 22,060 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
3.2 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
3.2
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
0.2
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 3.2 PPM, mineral scale can build up on fixtures and heating elements, reduce soap lather, and leave visible spotting. Hardness is primarily an aesthetic and appliance concern—not itself a tap-water safety rating.
USGS sites used
1
Nearest site
67.4 mi
Observation range
Jan 20, 2016–Mar 17, 2026
Estimate confidence
Low
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: Wild River at Gilead, Maine (Stream).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 04937 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Fairfield median
3 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 3.2–3.2 PPM
Maine median
39 PPM
36 PPM lower122 indexed ZIP readings · Range 3.2–94.5 PPM
EPA benchmark screen
Contaminant snapshot
Available numerical results from associated SDWIS community water systems, compared with the applicable action level or federal MCL. Federal measured-value coverage is incomplete.
1 pass1 fail
Lead (PB90)
0 mg/L
Reported Jun 30, 2025
Copper (CU90)
2.46 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 1992
Numerical coverage
2 comparable results
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
Lead (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 0
EPA limit 0.015
Copper (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 2.46
EPA limit 1.3
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 51
- Health-based
- 3
- Active health-based
- 2
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revised Total Coliform RuleHealth-based | ME0092853 | Unaddressed | Nov 2, 2025 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | ME0090750 | Archived | Nov 1, 2025through Nov 30, 2025 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | ME0090750 | Archived | Oct 1, 2025through Oct 31, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | ME0092853 | Resolved | Sep 1, 2025through Sep 30, 2025 |
| Revised Total Coliform RuleHealth-based | ME0092853 | Addressed | Jan 1, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | ME0000225 | Resolved | Dec 30, 2024through Mar 26, 2025 |
| E. COLI | ME0092853 | Resolved | Nov 9, 2024through Jun 30, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | ME0000225 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Feb 27, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | ME0092853 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Oct 2, 2024 |
| Nitrate | ME0000225 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2024through Dec 31, 2024 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | ME0092853 | Resolved | Sep 1, 2023through Sep 30, 2023 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | ME0000225 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2023through Mar 13, 2024 |
| Public Notice | ME0092853 | Resolved | Jun 21, 2023through Jun 28, 2023 |
| Revised Total Coliform RuleHealth-based | ME0092853 | Archived | Jun 1, 2023through Jun 30, 2023 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | ME0095610 | Unaddressed | Jul 1, 2022 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | ME0090750 | Resolved | Dec 30, 2021through Mar 23, 2022 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | ME0095610 | Resolved | Dec 30, 2021through Apr 5, 2022 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | ME0000225 | Unaddressed | Dec 30, 2021 |
| Dalapon | ME0090750 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2021through Dec 31, 2023 |
| Arsenic | ME0095610 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2021through Dec 31, 2023 |
No reported violation does not prove that every contaminant was tested or absent; SDWIS measured values are incomplete and lag state records.
Solutions matcher
Your personalized water action plan
Matched to Fairfield ZIP 04937 using 3.2 PPM nearby hardness and 2 reported measurement benchmarks.
Drinking water protection
Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis System
Copper (90th percentile), Revised Total Coliform Rule have a measured benchmark flag or active health-based SDWIS record in this profile.
A certified multi-stage RO system targets a broader range of dissolved contaminants at the kitchen tap.
Explore under-sink filtrationAffiliate disclosure: we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases, at no added cost to you. Product matching is educational and does not replace certified water testing.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Fairfield
Is tap water safe in Fairfield?+
EPA ECHO reports 2 active health-based violations among the associated community water systems. Review the affected utility's current notice and Consumer Confidence Report.
How hard is the water?+
Nearby USGS observations produce an estimate of 3.2 PPM, or 0.2 grains per gallon, classified as soft. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
There is no high-hardness trigger in this profile. Confirm with a tap test before buying equipment.