Arsenic Abatement

Program Summary

MaineHousing’s Arsenic Abatement Program provides grants to eligible single-family homeowners or landlords with private well water that shows evidence of high levels of arsenic contamination.  Abatement is important to provide clean drinking water to lower-income households, especially those with children under 7 years of age or pregnant women who live or spend a considerable amount of time in the house.

Eligibility

Homeowner Eligibility:
Single-family homeowners whose income is at or below 120 percent of area median income (AMI) and whose private well water was tested within the last 12 months and indicates arsenic levels greater than 10 ug/L may be eligible for the program. The house must be the primary residence and the applicant will need to show evidence of homeownership.

Applicants wishing to qualify for assistance may not have “liquid assets” in excess of $5,000. Applicants 60 years or older however, may have “liquid assets” up to a maximum of $50,000. Also, the Applicant may not have real estate in excess of that considered necessary and appropriate for their primary residence and the lot it occupies.  See Asset Requirements .

Landlord Eligibility:
Landlords whose income is at or below 120 percent of area median income (AMI)  and whose private well water was tested within the last 12 months and indicates arsenic levels greater than 10 ug/L may be eligible for the program. Eligible dwellings must have four units or less to quality.

Eligible Uses:
Grant disbursement will go directly to the vendor upon satisfactory completion and/or installation of remediation systems at the point of access to water or the point of water use.

• Point of access remediation system (maximum project grant of $15,000)
• Point of use remediation system (maximum project grant of $3,000)
• Ancillary water treatment systems to ensure performance of remediation

Ineligible Uses:

• Replacement filters
• Maintenance of systems
• Remediation activities done prior to MaineHousing approval
• Pre-remediation water testing

More Info

Interested homeowners or landlords must complete an application and submit it and supporting documents to MaineHousing for processing.  Upon completion of review and determination of eligible applicants, MaineHousing will contact a water purification vendor with applicant’s information. Vendors will visit eligible homeowner, determine the best remediation option, and send recommendations to MaineHousing for review and approval. For more information please review the program documents or contact:  

Email Me

(207) 624-5787