Due to manicured lawns and impervious driveways and rooftops, residential land exhibits a high rate of runoff.  Runoff from residential land can be harmful to the lake quality, if it is relatively close to the shoreline, or along a stream that flows into the lake. Also of are household and chemical and septic drainage from this land type.
	In 1965, residential land accounted for 2.3% of the total land cover in the watershed.  By 2003 this area increased 8.1%% of the total watershed land cover. The increase in residential property in China and Vassalboro is a trend that will likely continue into the future because of economic growth in both Augusta and Waterville.