Nearly $27 Million for Maine Water & Wastewater Infrastructure Secured by Senator Collins in Funding Bill in First Key Step

Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senator Susan Collins, a senior member of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that she secured $26,804,000 for 19 water and wastewater infrastructure projects across Maine in the draft Fiscal Year 2023 Interior and Environment appropriations bill.  The bill, which was officially released by the full Senate Appropriations Committee today, must still be voted upon by the full Senate and House.

“Maintaining and upgrading water and wastewater systems is vital to ensuring the economic and environmental health of the community,” said Senator Collins.  “These significant investments in Maine’s infrastructure would help Mainers continue to have access to clean, safe drinking water as well as expand capacity for business and residential growth.  As a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, I will continue to champion this funding as the appropriations process moves forward.”

Details on the 19 water and wastewater projects that Senator Collins requested are below:

Aroostook County

Eagle Lake Wastewater Treatment & Pumping Stations Upgrade

Recipient: Eagle Lake Water and Sewer District

Project Location: Eagle Lake, ME

Amount Requested: $1,000,000

Project Purpose: To upgrade Eagle Lake's sewer system to prevent failures and ensure

regulatory compliance.

Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and Pump Station Upgrades and Sludge Drying Bed

Recipient: Town of Grand Isle

Project Location: Grand Isle, ME

Amount Requested: $1,296,000

Project Purpose: To support upgrades that will enhance the safe treatment and delivery of potable water, treatment of wastewater, and disposal of wastewater sludge.

West Chapman Road Sanitary Sewer Replacement

Recipient: Mapleton Sewer District

Project Location: Mapleton, ME

Amount Requested: $783,000

Project Purpose: To replace existing sanitary sewer lines for regulatory compliance and to reduce excess flows into the sewer system.

Cumberland County

Town of Gorham Feasibility Study for Sewer and Water Distribution System

Recipient: Town of Gorham

Project Location: Gorham, ME

Amount Requested: $240,000

Project Purpose: To fund a feasibility study to connect the Route 22 commercial corridor

with sewage and water distribution services to prepare for future development.

Maine Turnpike Crossing Water Main Replacement

Recipient: Gray Water District

Project Location: Gray, ME

Amount Requested: $1,416,000

Project Purpose: To replace the 1950s-era water main that runs under the Maine Turnpike.

North Windham Wastewater Treatment Facility

Recipient: Town of Windham

Project Location: Windham, ME

Amount Requested: $2,000,000

Project Purpose: To install a sewer and wastewater treatment system using a Membrane Bio Reactor, which would clean the water to a much higher standard than the existing subsurface waste disposal systems and accommodate business and residential growth.

Hancock County

Up Island Water Tank Storage

Recipient: Town of Bar Harbor

Project Location: Bar Harbor, ME

Amount Requested: $1,439,000

Project Purpose: To replace the Up Island Water Tank, Bar Harbor's sole water tank.

Stonington Water Storage Tank Construction

Recipient: Stonington Water Company

Project Location: Stonington, ME

Amount Requested: $1,000,000

Project Purpose: To construct a water storage facility within the water distribution system to improve pressure and provide capacity needed to meet increased demand.

Kennebec County

Greater Augusta Utility District Sewer Pump Station Consolidation

Recipient: Greater Augusta Utility District

Project Location: Kennebec County, ME

Amount Requested: $2,000,000

Project Purpose: To consolidate two existing sewer pump stations into a single, more reliable pump station that will be designed for at least 50 years of service.

Winthrop Pump Stations Upgrade

Recipient: Winthrop Utilities District

Project Location: Winthrop, ME

Amount Requested: $1,896,000

Project Purpose: To upgrade the Sewer Pumping Stations to current electrical standards, replace the pumps and piping, make necessary structural repairs to the steel pump chamber, and recoat steel pump chambers.

Penobscot County

Souadabscook Pump Station Replacement

Recipient: Town of Hampden

Project Location: Hampden, ME

Amount Requested: $2,000,000

Project Purpose: To replace the Souadabscook pump station to alleviate potential environmental and economic issues.

Mattawamkeag Lagoon Sludge Dredging

Recipient: Town of Mattawamkeag

Project Location: Mattawamkeag, ME

Amount Requested: $520,000

Project Purpose: To provide needed sludge removal for the Town of Mattawamkeag's two facultative wastewater treatment plant lagoons.

Piscataquis County

Big Moose Township Municipal Sewer Line Connection

Recipient: Eastern Maine Development Corporation

Project Location: Big Moose Township, ME

Amount Requested: $5,733,000

Project Purpose: To support the construction of a municipal sewer line to the Moosehead sanitary district to promote economic development and protect the watershed.

Dover-Foxcroft Wastewater Treatment Facility Improvements

Recipient: Town of Dover-Foxcroft

Project Location: Dover-Foxcroft, ME

Amount Requested: $1,000,000

Project Purpose: To support needed improvements and efficiencies to the town's wastewater treatment system.

Somerset County

Solon Water Main Replacement

Recipient: Solon Water District

Project Location: Solon, ME

Amount Requested: $553,000

Project Purpose: To replace the water main that runs under the Fall Brook bridge.

Washington County

Palm Street Waterline Replacement

Recipient: Baileyville Utilities District

Project Location: Baileyville, ME

Amount Requested: $1,592,000

Project Purpose: To replace an aging waterline on Palm Street in Baileyville, which is in poor condition and has experienced multiple breaks.

Calais North Street Sewer Remediation Project

Recipient: City of Calais

Project Location: Calais, ME

Amount Requested: $500,000

Project Purpose: To separate storm water from the sewer system and to replace the existing sewer, which has deteriorated.

Calais Well and Generator Replacement

Recipient: City of Calais

Project Location: Calais, ME

Amount Requested: $576,000

Project Purpose: To replace one of the two drinking water supply wells in Calais and install a permanent backup generator.

York County

Route 1 Corridor Sewer Extension

Recipient: York Sewer District

Project Location: York, ME

Amount Requested: $1,500,000

Project Purpose: To provide sewer services to over 240 commercial and residential users and complete the sewer line on York's Route 1 corridor.