I have a bad habit of ALWAYS drinking tap water wherever I go.

For the most part in New England, that is totally fine. And since I grew up in Massachusetts, and have lived in New Hampshire for over 10 years, I'm just used to filling up a glass in the sink and drinking it.

But you can't do that in Maine...well, you shouldn't.

Is the drinking water safe to drink in Maine?

Yes and no.

According to a US News report, Maine was ranked the #49th state for "drinking water quality."

The only state to rank worse was Alaska (they ranked last at #50).

I was shocked to hear the water quality in Maine was in question. Maine has endless amounts of running water through streams and rivers...how would the water be bad or unsafe?

Well water in Maine:

According to the Bar Harbor government website, 1 in 10 wells in Maine had high levels of contaminants.

Those contaminants included arsenic, uranium, radon, and other harmful chemicals.

According to Bar Harbor health officer Mike Gurtler, arsenic in wells in Maine are underreported and can have harmful consequences.

So tap water may be safe; however, the well water is the "concern" in Maine...

Threats of drinking bad well water in Maine:

All of the harmful chemicals can have disastrous effects if consumed in your drinking water.

Arsenic, for example, can cause cancer, heart disease, immune disorders, and developmental delays in children.

Where to get my water tested in Maine?

The only way to know if your well water in Maine is safe is to test it.

You can order one online if you're interested in a water or radon test kit.

Speaking of safety...keep scrolling to see the 10 safest places to live in Maine right now:

The 10 Safest Places in Maine to Live Right Now

Breaking down stats relating to violent and property crime, here are the 10 places in Maine that are the safest to call home right now according to SafeWise.com.

Gallery Credit: Joey

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