Well water testing in Hollis, Maine
If your Hollis home is on a private well, testing is up to you — Maine doesn't regulate private wells. The good news: knowing where you stand takes 60 seconds, and the nearest sample drop-off is closer than you think.
Take the free checkup for your Hollis home →
What Maine recommends for every private well
- Every year: bacteria (total coliform / E. coli) and nitrate/nitrite — Maine CDC.
- Every 3–5 years: a full panel including arsenic, uranium, radon, lead, manganese, fluoride, and pH — Maine CDC. About 1 in 10 Maine wells has arsenic above the federal limit, with no taste, smell, or color.
- After events: retest after flooding, well or pump work, or any change in taste, smell, color, or staining.
- Transactions: FHA requires coliform, nitrate, nitrite, and lead; VA/USDA follow the local health authority. Maine sellers disclose the date of the last test (33 M.R.S. §173). Rental wells need an arsenic test every 5 years (22 M.R.S. §2660-Y).
Area-level information cannot determine what is in a specific household's well — neighboring wells can test differently. Only a properly collected laboratory sample can tell you what's in your water. This page is educational; see the disclaimer.
What testing has historically found in York County
- Arsenic: 23.1% of 2,174 tested wells were above the guideline (10 µg/L)
- Uranium: 1.8% of 1,835 tested wells were above the guideline (30 µg/L)
Statewide, about 1 in 10 tested wells exceeds the arsenic guideline. Figures are from wells whose owners chose to test through the state lab (Maine Tracking Network / Maine HETL, data updated 5/2023) — area-level context from a voluntary sample, not a prediction about any individual well. Neighboring wells can differ completely; only a properly collected sample tells you what's in yours. Source: Maine Tracking Network
Coastal towns: saltwater intrusion (chloride/sodium) can be a consideration for wells near the shore.
Nearest sample drop-off locations to Hollis
- Plummer's / Ace Hardware — 57 Main St., Gorham, ME · Directions
- Focused Property Inspections — 347 Main St., Unit 1B, Gorham, ME 04038 · Directions
- Ward Water — 1150 Pequawket Trail, Steep Falls, ME · Directions
- Fontus — 39 Immersion Dr., Suite 3, Scarborough, ME · Directions
Bacteria samples must reach the lab within about 30 hours of collection. Confirm timing: (207) 747-1815.
Buying or selling in Hollis?
FHA loans require a water test for coliform, nitrate, nitrite, and lead; VA and USDA follow the local health authority. Maine sellers must disclose the date of the last water test. The checkup has a transaction mode that walks through it.