Children in town of Hallowell, on the Western bank of the Kennebec River, are asking Maine Governor Janet Mills for just one Christmas gift this year: clean drinking water.
The request comes as the community remains under a “do not drink” advisory that has been in place since the spring, following test results showing elevated levels of PFAS — so-called “forever chemicals” — in the city’s public water supply.
The Hallowell Water District has reported PFAS levels around 20 parts per trillion, exceeding the state’s regulatory standard and prompting months of growing frustration among residents.
With long-term remediation not expected until 2028, families say they are out of patience.
A local physician who lives in Hallowell said concerns have intensified as residents rely on a single outdoor water spigot installed by the water district to provide up to five gallons of PFAS-free water per household each day.
The spigot, located outside the district’s building on Winthrop Street, is open to the public and exposed to the elements. Residents say the setup raises hygiene worries for elderly, immunocompromised, and young users who depend on it daily.
“We are a very small community with only about 1,168 residences on Hallowell’s water system, yet we are being told this won’t be fixed until 2028,” the physician said. “Meanwhile, other communities, including Fairfield, have received state-funded whole-house filtration systems. Parents here are asking why our children are being treated differently.”
The disparity has become a central point of frustration for many in the city, who say the state must act more urgently. According to residents, Fairfield households received state-supported filtration systems after widespread PFAS contamination was detected there several years ago.
Against this backdrop, a group of Hallowell children has begun delivering flyers door to door urging neighbors to demand action.
The effort was started by a 12-year-old Hallowell boy who designed a flyer warning families about the risks associated with the town’s water supply. His message has since sparked a city-wide letter-writing campaign aimed at Gov. Mills.
Beginning this week, children across Hallowell are writing letters asking the governor to “bring clean water for Christmas,” saying they should not have to wait years for safe drinking water at home. “Please just do the right thing and fix our water.”
Residents say they hope the campaign will draw statewide attention to a problem they believe has gone unanswered for too long.
“The state of Maine is required to provide clean drinking water,” the physician said. “Waiting until 2028 is unfair. These children deserve better.”
The Maine Wire spoke with Zack Lovely of the Hallowell Water District, who acknowledged the community’s mounting frustration. “I feel their pain. This is a major issue we are handling,” Lovely said. “We want safe water — it just takes time.”
District officials say a new PFAS treatment plant is scheduled to open in early 2028, a timeline they describe as realistic given engineering requirements, permitting, and construction schedules. Until then, the district continues operating its PFAS-free public spigot and conducting ongoing water quality testing.
Residents seeking more information about PFAS contamination, testing data, and updates on the treatment project can visit the district’s resource page, which also includes a link to a recent PFAS workshop for the community.
Organizers of the children’s letter campaign say they plan to send the letters to the Blaine House throughout December.
Gov. Mills’ office did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
