water quality

FILE - This colorized 2006 scanning electron microscope image made available by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows E. coli bacteria of the O157:H7 strain that produces a powerful toxin which can cause illness. Health officials are investigating an outbreak of E. coli food poisoning among students at the University of Arkansas in late August 2023, with dozens reporting symptoms and several needing treatment in the hospital.

Health

Maine's drinking water program detects uptick in E. coli contamination this year

Patty Wight

The Maine CDC's Drinking Water Program is seeing a spike in E. coli contamination in public water systems.

Environment and Outdoors

Two-week-long boil water order lifted in North Jay

Kaitlyn Budion

The North Jay Water district has lifted a two-week-long boil water order for customers.

A pair of surfers jog down Gooch's Beach on their way out to sea to take advantage of heavy surf kicked up by a winter storm, Thursday, March 1, 2012, in Kennebunk, Maine.

Environment and Outdoors

Group warns of potentially polluted water identified at Maine beaches

Caty DuDevoir

Thirty-six beaches in Maine were considered potentially unsafe for swimming on at least one day of bacteria testing in 2022, according to a recent report.

Lake Auburn at sunset on August 28, 2016.

Environment and Outdoors

Lewiston-Auburn residents bring concerns about development near Lake Auburn to state regulators

Patty Wight

Nearly a dozen residents from Auburn and Lewiston have filed a complaint with the Public Utilities Commission against the Auburn Water District.

The rally brought hundreds of people, including Passamaquoddy citizens, Sipayik elementary and Penobscot Nation students and other supporters, to the State House on Monday, April 11, 2022.

Health

Clean drinking water bill for Passamaquoddy tribe draws a crowd

Nicole Ogrysko

The bill, known as LD 906, is designed to improve drinking water for the Passamaquoddy tribe at Sipayik near Eastport.

Maine

Water Quality: How Are Conditions in Maine's Rivers, Lakes and Ocean?

Recent reports of bacterial contamination in lakes caused in part by warm temperatures raise the question: What is the condition of the waters around us?…

Environment and Outdoors

Public Invited to Weigh in On Tribal Waters Dispute

Susan Sharon

The Penobscot Indian Nation is inviting the public to a hearing tonight to provide input on proposed new water quality standards for tribal waters. It's…

Environment and Outdoors

Maine Sues EPA Over Water Quality Assessments on Tribal Lands

Susan Sharon

In a rare, joint action, a member of the LePage administration has teamed up with the Maine attorney general to file a federal lawsuit against the U.S.…

Environment and Outdoors

Maine Sues EPA Over Lack of Water Quality Action

Associated Press

BANGOR, Maine (AP) _ The state of Maine is suing the Environmental Protection Agency, saying the federal agency has failed to approve the state's water…