Skip to content

City water profile

Portland water quality

Compare local ZIP estimates, evidence quality, associated public systems, and compliance history for Portland, Maine.

Median indexed hardness

24PPM

6 indexed ZIPs

Range 24–24 PPM

State comparison
15 PPM below
State hardness rank
#93 of 110
Matched utilities
1
Active health records
0

City summary

What the indexed records say

Portland has 6 published ZIP profiles across Cumberland County. The indexed median is 24 PPM, compared with 39 PPM across Maine.

Among the 110 Mainecities with an indexed median, Portland ranks #93from highest to lowest. Across all 131 state ZIP profiles, available estimates run from 3.2to 94.5 PPM.

The 24–24 PPM range shows how much the available ZIP estimates vary within the city label. At least one estimate is marked low confidence, so observation distance and date deserve extra attention.

Hardness distribution

How local ZIP estimates compare

Soft6 ZIPs
Moderately hard0 ZIPs
Hard0 ZIPs
Very hard0 ZIPs

6 of 6 ZIP profiles have a hardness estimate. Bars count ZIP profiles, not households or laboratory samples.

Evidence quality

Distance, dates, and confidence

Median nearest distance
62.8 miles
Profiles with evidence
6/6

Confidence labels

High: 0Moderate: 0Low: 6

Observation window: Jan 20, 2016 to Mar 17, 2026.

ZIP directory

Water reports in Portland

Open a ZIP for site-level provenance and measurements.

ZIP code

04019

Soft

24 PPM

Nearest site
64.8 mi
Confidence
Low

View full ZIP evidence →

ZIP code

04101

Soft

24 PPM

Nearest site
61.8 mi
Confidence
Low

View full ZIP evidence →

ZIP code

04102

Soft

24 PPM

Nearest site
61.1 mi
Confidence
Low

View full ZIP evidence →

ZIP code

04103

Soft

24 PPM

Nearest site
59 mi
Confidence
Low

View full ZIP evidence →

ZIP code

04108

Soft

24 PPM

Nearest site
65.3 mi
Confidence
Low

View full ZIP evidence →

ZIP code

04109

Soft

24 PPM

Nearest site
62.8 mi
Confidence
Low

View full ZIP evidence →

Public water systems

Utilities associated with this city

Portland Water District-Greater

PWSID ME0091300

Surface water
System population served
135,068
Last reported
May 13, 2026

The system names this served city; Census place overlap links the city to this ZCTA.

Compliance history

What EPA records show

No active health-based violation appears among the associated systems in the represented EPA reporting quarter. This does not mean every contaminant was tested at every tap.

RecordSystemPeriodStatus
CARBON, TOTALME0091300Oct 1, 2022Resolved
BromateME0091300Oct 1, 2022Resolved
TTHMME0091300Apr 1, 2022Resolved
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)ME0091300Apr 1, 2022Resolved
CARBON, TOTALME0091300Apr 1, 2021Resolved
BromateME0091300Apr 1, 2021Resolved

Practical next steps

Move from index to evidence

  1. 1. Open your ZIP. Check distance, dates, confidence, and the associated utility.
  2. 2. Read the current CCR. Confirm source water, detections, limits, ranges, and notices.
  3. 3. Test the tap when needed. Confirm health concerns or treatment sizing with the right method.

Questions people ask

About water in Portland

Is the water hard?

The indexed city median is 24 PPM. Open the ZIP report to verify the distance and confidence behind that estimate.

Is the tap water safe?

Compliance history is utility-wide and cannot guarantee conditions at every tap. Check current notices and test when address-specific evidence is needed.

Do I need treatment?

Choose treatment only after confirming the problem at the property. A softener targets hardness; contaminant treatment requires a matching, verified performance claim.