Biddeford & Saco Water Company
Frequently Asked Questions
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- Is the tap water furnished by Biddeford and Saco Water Company safe to drink?
- How would I find out about a problem with the water supply?
- Where does my drinking water come from?
- Is the Saco River protected from contamination?
- My water is cloudy once in a while; is it still safe to drink?
- Sometimes my water has an odd taste or odor; can I drink it?
- Do I need a water filter for my home? Should I only drink bottled water?
- Is there lead in my water, and if so what can I do about it?
- homes that are very old (pre-WWII) with lead services or leadpipe, and
- homes that were built between 1982 and 1987, which used copper pipe with lead
based solder. Lead-based solder was banned from use on domestic drinking water
plumbing in 1987.
- Should I be concerned about radon?
- What chemicals do you put in the water?
- What is in Biddeford and Saco Water Company's treated water?
- What type of disinfectant is used in the drinking water?
- Is my water soft or hard?
- Is it okay to drink or cook with hot water?
- How should I treat water for my fish aquarium?
- Sometimes I find a pink colored slime in my bathtub; what is that?
- I had a large leak; can I get an adjustment in my bill?
- Why is my sewer user fee so large?
Yes, our water more than meets all regulatory mandates, and has never violated any standard. Drinking water is regulated through the Maine Department of Human Services Drinking Water Program, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The Biddeford and Saco Water Company keeps close watch on the water supply. If we were to find a problem with the water, we would try to notify all affected water users, as required by law. You would get the news from the radio, television, and newspapers, from the Company, and from the Maine State Drinking Water Program.
All water supplied to our customers is drawn from the Saco River. The intakes are located in Biddeford, approximately one mile west of the Maine Turnpike.
The Saco River is unique in the Sate of Maine in that the Saco River Corridor Commission was created by an act of the Maine Legislature in 1973. The sole purpose of the Commission is to regulate the use of land and water within the Saco River watershed. The intent of the Legislature when it created the Commission was to set in place a regulatory agency that would provide coordinated, basin-wide land use regulation, and further, to have that regulatory agency run by the affected communities themselves. In addition to the controls in place as a result of the wonderful work done by the Commission since its inception in the early 1970's, there are numerous state and local land use regulations in place which help preserve the quality of life for those of us fortunate enough to live within the Saco River basin.
However, past success does not guarantee a worry free future. We must continue to support the regulatory organizations we have in place, and individually watch out for any activities that might adversely affect the Saco River, one of Southern Maine's most precious resources.
Cloudy water is most often caused by small air bubbles, not unlike the small gas bubbles one finds in carbonated beverages or beer. The best way to verify that water's cloudiness is caused by air is to fill a glass and set it on the counter. If the cause of the cloudiness is air, the water in the glass should clear from bottom to top as the tiny air bubbles rise to the surface. This type of cloudiness is most common in the winter. You can safely drink, cook with, or bathe in this water.
Tastes and odors in drinking water are most often caused by natural elements in the source water. Algae and other such aquatic plants can cause a fishy, grassy, or earthy odor on rare occasions each year. You can safely drink, cook with, or bathe in this water.
You may also taste or smell the low levels of chlorine compounds that we add to disinfect the water and make it safe to drink. Such compounds are less detectable when the water has been chilled. One method to lessen such odors would be to keep a container filled with tap water in the refrigerator and then use the chilled water for drinking.
Our tap water is of excellent quality and far exceeds all state and federal drinking water standards. However, if there are internal plumbing problems with the piping in your home, or if you are immunocompromised, you may want to consider installing a filter or treatment system. The Company does have a file of reprinted articles on various home filtration systems; if you would like to receive a free copy, call our office at (207) 282-1543.
Certain bottled waters may also be used to meet the special needs of the immunocompromised, or to provide a drinking water of more consistent taste should that be your desire. However, it should be remembered that all drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain small amounts of various substances; in fact that's what gives water its taste. Public water utilities, like the Biddeford and Saco Water Company, are required to publish an annual report detailing all such substances detected in the water; bottled water companies are not now required to publish such reports.
The Company has never detected lead in either the Saco River or our treated water. However, lead can enter the water in your home by dissolving from your household plumbing. According to the EPA, two type of homes may be at risk for lead contamination:
No, the Company's only source of supply is the Saco River, a surface water; radon is not found in surface waters.
During the treatment process aluminum sulfate, lime, and polymer are added to the untreated water. These chemicals bind with foreign matter such as dirt particles and form into large clumps that can be removed during the sedimentation and filtration portion of the treatment process. After filtration, fluoride is added as needed to reach the optimum concentration for controlling tooth decay. Also, chlorine and ammonia are used for disinfection, and a polyphosphate is used to reduce the water's corrosiveness. All chemicals that are added are certified food grad (safe for use in foods). Click here for a virtual tour of our Saco River treatment facility.
All natural waters contain some chemicals. EPA has evaluated the chemicals which one might typically expect to be find in water and identified over 100 substances, which when present at levels above certain limits may be of health concern.
All water utilities are required to routinely test for these substances to confirm that they are not present at concentrations that would be of concern. In addition, all utilities must issue an annual report listing all of these substances that were detected in their water supplies during the year, no matter how small the amount detected may have been. We issue this report in June of each year and mail a copy to all of our customers. To view our most recent Water Quality Report, click here.
The drinking water that is delivered to our customers contains chloramines as a disinfectant. Chloramines are a combination of chlorine and ammonia. We use chloramines because they are both relatively long lasting and highly effective, but do not tend to form some of the problematic byproducts that some of the other disinfectants typically used in water treatment can produce
Our water is very soft. Hardness is less than one grain per gallon.
You should never use water drawn from the hot water tap for drinking, or for preparing food or beverages. All systems used to heat water contain metal parts that corrode over time and make the water unsuited for drinking.
The water we supply to your home contains a disinfectant. It is imperative that you completely remove the disinfectant from the water before you use it for your fish. Also, you should flush your plumbing system by running the water for a few minutes before you draw any to fill the aquarium. Your pet store can advise you further on how to test for and remove the disinfectant from the water.
There are many different microorganisms that can grow on household plumbing fixtures and form a film or slime. These microorganisms occur naturally and are harmless for the most part. Many of these microorganisms are resistant to chlorine and thrive in the warm, humid atmosphere common to most bathrooms. Using a non-chlorine-based disinfectant (e.g. Lysol) to perform routine cleaning will eliminate most of these troublesome microorganisms.
The Company may make an adjustment in a customer's bill if there was a leak at the property. The Company may require proof to confirm that leakage occurred and that the cause has been repaired. The adjustment will be determined by deducting one-half of the billing in excess of normal usage. Such adjustment will only be available one time during a three-year period.
The Company does not set the rates for sewer use charges, nor does the Company prepare or mail out the bills you receive for sewer use; this is confusing because the bills look similar to the water bills that we do prepare. Our only function in the entire sewer use billing process is to advise the Sewer Departments how much water passed through your water meter during the billing period. How much you are charged for disposal of that amount of water is determined by the Wastewater or Sewer Department in the community in which you live, not by us. If you have questions or concerns about your sewer use bill, you should call the appropriate Department; their telephone number is on their bill.