Municipal Water Systems (Public Water Utilities)
A 'municipal water system' (a.k.a., a water utility) generally refers to an organization engaged in furnishing water to the public within a municipal or regional division for household or drinking purposes. Usually, these utilities are owned and operated by either local (municipal) government agencies or quasi-autonomous corporations governed by a board of trustees, although private utilities do exist. Still, even if a utility does not fall under the auspices of a particular governmental entity, the system is subject to government regulation in the public's interest.
In Maine, municipal water systems are regulated by the Drinking Water Program to ensure compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act. The DWP provides regulatory oversight of water sources and retrieval, treatment, storage, and distribution to consumers, all with an eye to protecting public health. The DWP is not involved in oversight of a water utility's business operations or consumer relations.
All concerns or complaints regarding a water utility's business practices and management, or questions concerning rates, billing, and/or access to service should be directed to the Maine Public Utilities Commission (PUC).
The table below lists all of the municipal water systems in Maine (including links to their websites), their extended service areas, and -- in the third column -- the DWP inspection district in which they are located and the Public Water System Inspector responsible for that district. Please note not all municipal water systems have a web presence. While we have attempted to provide as comprehensive a list as possible, updates to these listings are always welcome and may be sent to the DWP web manager.
| Utility Name | Extended Service Area | District, Inspector |
|---|---|---|
| Addison Point Water District | Addison | District J: Kelly Shores |
| Alfred Water District | Alfred | District I: Denise Douin |
| Andover Water District | Andover | District I: Denise Douin |
| Anson & Madison Water District | Anson, Madison, Embden | District J: Kelly Shores |
| Ashland Water & Sewer District | Ashland | District J: Kelly Shores |
| Auburn Water District | Auburn | District I: Denise Douin |
| Baileyville Utilities District | Baileyville | District J: Kelly Shores |
| Bangor Water District | Bangor, Clifton, Eddington, Hampden, Hermon, Orrington, Veazie | District J: Kelly Shores |
| Bar Harbor (Town of) - Water Division | Bar Harbor | District J: Kelly Shores |
| Bath Water District | Bath, Brunswick, West Bath, Wiscasset, Woolwich | District I: Denise Douin |
| Belfast Water District | Belfast, Northport | District J: Kelly Shores |
| Berwick Water Department | Berwick | District I: Denise Douin |
| Bethel Water District | Bethel | District I: Denise Douin |
| Biddeford & Saco Division - Maine Water Company | Biddeford, Saco | District I: Denise Douin |
| Bingham Water District | Bingham, Moscow | District J: Kelly Shores |
| Boothbay Region Water District | Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor, Southport | District I: Denise Douin |
| Bowdoinham Water District | Bowdoinham | District I: Denise Douin |
| Brewer Water Department | Brewer, Clifton, Eddington, Holden, Orrington | District J: Kelly Shores |
| Bridgton Water District | Bridgton | District I: Denise Douin |
| Brownville Junction Water Department | Brownville | District J: Kelly Shores |
| Brownville Water & Sewer Department | Brownville | District J: Kelly Shores |
| Brunswick & Topsham Water District | Brunswick, Topsham | District I: Denise Douin |
| Buckfield Village Corporation | Buckfield | District I: Denise Douin |
| Bucksport Division - Maine Water Company | Bucksport | District J: Kelly Shores |
| Calais Water Department | Calais | District J: Kelly Shores |
| Camden & Rockland Division - Maine Water Company | Camden, Rockland, Owls Head, Rockport, Thomaston, Warren | District I: Denise Douin |
| Canton Water District | Canton | District I: Denise Douin |
| Caribou Utilities District | Caribou | District J: Kelly Shores |
| Castine Water District | Castine | District J: Kelly Shores |
| Clinton Water District | Clinton | District I: Denise Douin |
| Corinna Water District | Corinna | District J: Kelly Shores |
| Cornish Water District | Cornish | District I: Denise Douin |
| Danforth Water District | Danforth | District J: Kelly Shores |
| Deer Isle Consumer Owned Water Utility | Deer Isle | District J: Kelly Shores |
| Dexter Utility District | Dexter | District J: Kelly Shores |
| Dixfield Water Department | Dixfield | District I: Denise Douin |
| Dover & Foxcroft Water District | Dover-Foxcroft | District J: Kelly Shores |
| Dresden Water Department | Dresden | District I: Denise Douin |
| Eagle Lake Water & Sewer District | Eagle Lake | District J: Kelly Shores |
| East Millinocket Water Works | East Millinocket | District J: Kelly Shores |
| East Pittston Water District | Pittston | District I: Denise Douin |
| East Vassalboro Water Company | Vassalboro | District I: Denise Douin |
| Ellsworth Water Department | Ellsworth | District J: Kelly Shores |
| Eustis Water Department | Eustis | District J: Kelly Shores |
| Exeter Water Department | Exeter | District J: Kelly Shores |
| Farmington Falls Standard Water District | Farmington, Chesterville, New Sharon | District I: Denise Douin |
| Farmington Village Corporation | Farmington | District I: Denise Douin |
| Fort Fairfield Utilities District | Fort Fairfield | District J: Kelly Shores |
| Fort Kent Water & Wastewater Department | Fort Kent | District J: Kelly Shores |
| Franklin Water Department | Franklin | District J: Kelly Shores |
| Freeport Division - Maine Water Company | Freeport | District I: Denise Douin |
| Friendship Water Department | Friendship | District I: Denise Douin |
| Fryeburg Water Company | Fryeburg | District I: Denise Douin |
| Gardiner Water District | Gardiner, Randolph, Farmingdale, Pittston | District I: Denise Douin |
| Grand Isle Water Department | Grand Isle | District J: Kelly Shores |
| Gray Water District | Gray | District I: Denise Douin |
| Great Salt Bay Sanitary District | Damariscotta, Newcastle, Nobleboro | District I: Denise Douin |
| Greater Augusta Utility District | Augusta, Manchester, Chelsea, Hallowell, Winthrop, Vassalboro | District I: Denise Douin |
| Greenville Division - Maine Water Company | Greenville | District J: Kelly Shores |
| Guilford-Sangerville Water District | Guilford, Sangerville, Abbot, Parkman | District J: Kelly Shores |
| Hallowell Water District | Hallowell, Chelsea, Farmingdale | District I: Denise Douin |
| Hampden Water District | Hampden | District J: Kelly Shores |
| Harrison Water District | Harrison | District I: Denise Douin |
| Hartland Division - Maine Water Company | Hartland | District J: Kelly Shores |
| Hebron Water Company | Hebron | District I: Denise Douin |
| Houlton Water Company | Houlton | District J: Kelly Shores |
| Howland Water Department | Howland | District J: Kelly Shores |
| Island Falls Water Department | Island Falls | District J: Kelly Shores |
| Jackman Utility District | Jackman | District J: Kelly Shores |
| Jay Village Water District | Jay | District I: Denise Douin |
| Kennebec Water District | Waterville, Winslow, Fairfield, Benton, Vassalboro | District I: Denise Douin |
| Kennebunk, Kennebunkport & Wells Water District | Kennebunk, Kennebunkport, Wells | District I: Denise Douin |
| Kezar Falls Division - Maine Water Company | Hiram, Parsonsfield, Porter | District I: Denise Douin |
| Kingfield Water District | Kingfield | District J: Kelly Shores |
| Kittery Water District | Kittery | District I: Denise Douin |
| Lewiston Public Works, Water Division | Lewiston | District I: Denise Douin |
| Limerick Water District | Limerick | District I: Denise Douin |
| Limestone Water & Sewer District | Limestone | District J: Kelly Shores |
| Lincoln Water District | Lincoln | District J: Kelly Shores |
| Lisbon Water Department | Lisbon | District I: Denise Douin |
| Livermore Falls Water District | Livermore | District I: Denise Douin |
| Long Pond Water District | Sorrento, Sullivan | District J: Kelly Shores |
| Lubec Water District | Lubec | District J: Kelly Shores |
| Machias Water Company | Machias | District J: Kelly Shores |
| Madawaska Water District | Madawaska | District J: Kelly Shores |
| Mars Hill and Blaine Water Company | Mars Hill, Blaine | District J: Kelly Shores |
| Mechanic Falls Water Department | Mechanic Falls | District I: Denise Douin |
| Mexico Water District | Mexico | District I: Denise Douin |
| Milbridge Water District | Milbridge | District J: Kelly Shores |
| Millinocket Division - Maine Water Company | Millinocket | District J: Kelly Shores |
| Milo Water District | Milo | District J: Kelly Shores |
| Monson Utilities District | Monson | District J: Kelly Shores |
| Morrill Village Water District | Morrill | District I: Denise Douin |
| Moscow Water District | Moscow | District J: Kelly Shores |
| Mount Blue Standard Water District | Avon, Phillips | District J: Kelly Shores |
| Mount Desert Water District | Mount Desert | District J: Kelly Shores |
| New Gloucester Water District | New Gloucester | District I: Denise Douin |
| New Portland Water District | New Portland | District J: Kelly Shores |
| New Sharon Water District | New Sharon | District I: Denise Douin |
| Newport Water District | Newport | District J: Kelly Shores |
| Norridgewock Water District | Norridgewock | District J: Kelly Shores |
| North Berwick Water District | North Berwick | District I: Denise Douin |
| North Haven Water Department | North Haven | District I: Denise Douin |
| North Jay Water District | Jay | District I: Denise Douin |
| Northport Village Corporation | Northport | District I: Denise Douin |
| Norway Water District | Norway | District I: Denise Douin |
| Oakland Division - Maine Water Company | Oakland | District I: Denise Douin |
| Old Town Water District | Old Town, Milford, Bradley, Orono, the Penobscot Indian Nation on Indian Island. | District J: Kelly Shores |
| Oquossoc Standard Water District | Rangeley | District J: Kelly Shores |
| Orono-Veazie Water District | Orono, Veazie | District J: Kelly Shores |
| Oxford Water District | Oxford | District I: Denise Douin |
| Paris Utility District | Paris | District I: Denise Douin |
| Passamaquoddy Water District | Eastport, Perry, Pleasant Point | District J: Kelly Shores |
| Patten Water Department | Patten | District J: Kelly Shores |
| Pine Springs Road and Water LLC | Shapleigh | District I: Denise Douin |
| Pittsfield Water Department | Pittsfield | District J: Kelly Shores |
| Plymouth Water District | Plymouth | District J: Kelly Shores |
| Port Clyde Water District | St George (Port Clyde) | District I: Denise Douin |
| Portland Water District | Portland, Cape Elizabeth, Cumberland, Falmouth, Gorham, Raymond, Scarborough, South Portland, Standish, Westbrook, Windham | District I: Denise Douin |
| Presque Isle Utilities District | Presque Isle | District J: Kelly Shores |
| Princeton Water District | Princeton | District J: Kelly Shores |
| Quantabacook Water District | Harrington | District J: Kelly Shores |
| Rangeley Water District | Rangeley, Rangeley Plantation, Dallas Plantation, Sandy River Plantation | District J: Kelly Shores |
| Richmond Utilities District | Richmond, Bowdoinham | District I: Denise Douin |
| Rumford Water District | Rumford | District I: Denise Douin |
| Sabattus Sanitary District | Sabattus | District I: Denise Douin |
| Sanford Water District | Sanford | District I: Denise Douin |
| Searsport Water District | Searsport, Stockton Springs | District J: Kelly Shores |
| Skowhegan Division - Maine Water Company | Skowhegan | District J: Kelly Shores |
| Solon Water District | Solon | District J: Kelly Shores |
| South Berwick Water District | South Berwick, Berwick | District I: Denise Douin |
| South Freeport Water District | Freeport | District I: Denise Douin |
| Southwest Harbor Water & Sewer District | Southwest Harbor | District J: Kelly Shores |
| St Francis Water District | St Francis | District J: Kelly Shores |
| Starks Water District | Starks | District J: Kelly Shores |
| Stonington Water Company | Stonington | District J: Kelly Shores |
| Strong Water District | Strong | District J: Kelly Shores |
| Tenants Harbor Water District | St George (Tenants Harbor) | District I: Denise Douin |
| Van Buren Water District | Van Buren | District J: Kelly Shores |
| Vinalhaven Water District | Vinalhaven | District I: Denise Douin |
| Waldoboro Water Department | Waldoboro | District I: Denise Douin |
| Washburn Water & Sewer District | Washburn | District J: Kelly Shores |
| Waterboro Water Department | Waterboro | District I: Denise Douin |
| West Paris Water District | West Paris | District I: Denise Douin |
| Wilton Water Department | Wilton | District I: Denise Douin |
| Winter Harbor Water District | Winter Harbor | District J: Kelly Shores |
| Winterport Water District | Winterport | District J: Kelly Shores |
| Winthrop Utilities District | Winthrop | District I: Denise Douin |
| Wiscasset Water District | Wiscasset, Woolwich | District I: Denise Douin |
| Yarmouth Water District | Yarmouth, North Yarmouth | District I: Denise Douin |
| York Water District | York | District I: Denise Douin |