| MAINE WATER UTILITIES ASSOCIATION | Monday/Tuesday | … 2010 Insert.pdf · Maine Water Utilities...

The Maine Water Utilities Asso-ciation is pleased to present this2010 informational supplementcelebrating National DrinkingWater Week. We were excited thatso many people enjoyed our first

supplement distributed last year.Water utilities provide an essen-

tial service to our communities: areliable supply of safe drinkingwater at the turn of the tap. Thevalue of water and the infrastruc-

ture that supplies it cannot beoverstated. For the most part,water utilities have been “silentservants,” with the majority of ourfacilities out of sight — and there-fore often out of mind. Water isplentiful and relatively inexpensivein Maine, and without the need forenforced conservation, the costand mechanics of maintaining asteady supply rarely comes tomind — until a water main breaksor a hydrant is needed for firefighting.

We hope this supplement bringsinto focus the value of water,which includes the professionalswho deliver it right to your tap —all day, every day — and the plan-ning, projects, and investmentsthat support that delivery. Ourmission supports:

PPuubblliicc hheeaalltthh:: Experts estimate

three million people die each yearfrom waterborne disease world-wide. In the United States, you cansafely drink from a public tap.Water utilities monitor for morethan 100 contaminants and mustmeet nearly 90 regulations.

FFiirree pprrootteeccttiioonn:: A well-planneddistribution system with appropri-ate hydrants and sufficient volumeand pressure is critical in protect-ing communities.

EEccoonnoommiicc ddeevveellooppmmeenntt:: Theavailability, quality, and cost ofpublic water and fire protectioncan influence a company’s decisionabout locating or expanding abusiness.

One final thought from arecent industry publication:“Reinvesting in our water infra-structure today can help prevent acrisis tomorrow.”

Yours for safe drinking water,

Kathy Moriarty, PresidentMaine Water Utilities Association

2 | MAINE WATER UTILITIES ASSOCIATION | Monday/Tuesday | May 3-4, 2010

This supplement was produced and published for the MWUA by the

Editor/Layout: David M. Fitzpatrick Writing and Photos: Members of the MWUACover Design: Josh Alves Sales: Linda Hayes

If you’d like to participate in next year’s MWUA supplement, contact Linda Hayes at (207) 990-8137 [email protected]. If you’d like to reach a local, regional, or statewide audience (or beyond) with yourorganization’s message, consider running your own targeted Special Section. For more information, contact Paul

Herrick at (207) 990-8295 or [email protected].

WATER RESOURCESMaine Water Utilities Association

www.mwua.org - (207) 832-2263 - Represents the Maine water worksprofessional membership.

State of Maine Drinking Water Programwww.medwp.com - (207) 287-2070 - State agency responsible for

enforcing federal and state drinking water rules.

American Water Works Associationwww.awwa.org - International scientific and educational society dedi-

cated to the improvement of drinking water quality and supply.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agencywww.epa.gov - (800) 426-4791 - Present and future federal regula-

tions, water quality data, and source water information.

National Centers for Disease Controlwww.cdc.gov - (800) 311-3435

Information on Disease Control and Prevention.

May 2-8, 2010 is NationalDrinking Water Week —a time torecognize the importance ofdrinking water protection andconservation, as well as the value,importance, and fragility of ourstate’s water resources water forpeople in their everyday lives.Maine residents and visitors areserved daily by more than 1,900public drinking water systems,ranging in size from a drinkingfountain at a roadside rest area to alarge metropolitan drinking watersystem. The Maine CDC DrinkingWater Program within the Depart-ment of Health and Human Ser-vices works with drinking waterutilities to make sure that the waterdelivered to consumers meets allfederal and state standards and isclean and abundant.

In acknowledgement of Drink-ing Water Week, on May 4 Gov.John E. Baldacci will sign a procla-mation to recognize May 2-8, 2010as Drinking Water Week in Maine.Members of several water utilities,the Maine Municipal Bond Bank,Maine Rural Water Association,and the Maine CDC DrinkingWater Program will be at the gov-ernor’s office for the signing.

The Maine CDC DrinkingWater Program has reported thetremendous benefits from the$19.5 million in drinking-waterfunding Maine received from theAmerican Recovery and Reinvest-ment Act of 2009. That fundinghelped put people to work at a timeof great need, and enabled publicwater systems throughout Maineto replace aging pipes, treatment

systems, and tanks to improvedrinking-water quality and publichealth for Maine citizens.

The Maine CDC DrinkingWater Program is also sponsoringthe National Theatre for Childrento perform at various Maineschools served by communitywater systems during DrinkingWater Week. The NTC performsskits that educate kindergartenthrough sixth-grade studentsabout the importance of safe,secure drinking water. This year,the NTC will work with the Lime-stone Water District, Eagle LakeWater & Sewer District, BrownvilleWater District, Aqua Maine (Cam-den/Rockland Division), and theMorrill Village Water District toperform for schools in their serv-ice areas.

It’s National Drinking Water Week!

MWUA STORIES

How do you know your drinking water is safe? . . . . . . . . . . .3How is water treated? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4Protect your home from cross connections

and backflow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5It’s ultraviolet! Stimulus funding alows Lewiston-Auburn to

begin joint disinfection facility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6What your water utility does for you . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8The role of water in fire prevention . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9Maine water bodies that are

public water sources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11Microfiltration membrane technology

comes to Maine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13Sebago Lake land reserve: ‘Respect

the land, protect the lake’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14Androscoggin Land Trust: Protecting

watersheds through land conservation . . . . . . . . . . . .14Conserving water in your home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15Kids’ Page! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15MWUA awards $1,000 scholarships

to three UMaine students . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

SPLASHES OF HISTORY

Kennebec Water District: the firstwater district in the nation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Portland Water District . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7Bangor Water District . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10Auburn Water District . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .101902-1903: The waterborne typhoid epidemic . . . . . . . . . .12Lewiston Water Works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

A Message from MWUA President Kathy Moriarty

Andy Tolman, Assistant DirectorMAINE CDC DRINKING WATER PROGRAM

Safe, secure, and adequate supplies ofdrinking water are necessary for good healthand well-being. For about half of Mainers,public water systems provide this essential

service to their homes. The other half relieson private wells for drinking water.

PPuubblliicc WWaatteerr SSyysstteemmssPublic water systems work with the

Maine Drinking Water Program to treatand routinely test the water they supply toensure it meets federal standards and is safeto drink. Municipal water systems produceannual Consumer Confidence Reports toinform their customers about the qualityand safety of their water. If a routine testfinds bacteria in the water, customers areinformed immediately, and a boil-waterorder may be issued. As soon as the problemis resolved, the order is lifted. Water opera-tors licensed by the state, under the supervi-sion of either a board of trustees or themunicipality, manage municipal systems.All of these entities work together to pro-vide safe and reliable drinking water to theircustomers.

PPrriivvaattee WWeellllssIf you have your own well, it was probably

drilled by a Maine state-licensed well driller,who is trained and tested in the proper loca-

tion and construction of water wells.Drillers typically take initial water sam-ples from the well and have them testedto determine if it’s safe to drink. Afterthat, the homeowner is responsible forthe well’s operation and maintenance.The water for your home comes from rain-fall, and how you and your neighbors usethe land around your well can change yourwater quality. Some steps you can take tohelp ensure the quality of your well water:

• If you have a septic tank, pump it regu-larly and don’t pour chemicals you don’twant to drink down the drain.

• Use fertilizers and pesticides carefully,so they won’t wash down into your watersupply.

• Handle gasoline and used motor oilcarefully, and dispose of it at a recyclingcenter.

• Inspect your heating-oil tank and itspiping to make sure it’s not leaking or in

danger of tipping over.• Test your well every year for bacteria and

nitrates that can quickly make you sick.• Test your well every three to five years

for arsenic, radon, uranium, lead, and fluo-ride. These are all natural elements that canhave health effects.

• Encourage your neighbors to take careof their septic tanks, petroleum, and chemi-cals with as much care as you do.

• For more information about maintain-ing your well, visit the Maine Departmentof Health and Human Service and MaineCenter for Disease Control and Prevention’sDivision of Environmental Health site atwellwater.maine.gov.

MAINE WATER UTILITIES ASSOCIATION | Monday/Tuesday | May 3-4, 2010 | 3

Rick KnowltonAQUA MAINE

Across Maine, public water systemswithdraw over 30 billion gallons each year tosupply customers with potable water. Over20 billion gallons come from Maine’s lakes,streams, and rivers — surface waters thatmust be treated before delivery. Ten billiongallons come from groundwater sources —either shallow wells in sand and graveldeposits or deep wells drilled into Maine’sgranite plate. How your water is treated gen-erally depends on where it comes from.

Community water systems in Maine serve66 percent of the population. Every one ofthese systems must deliver water that meetsthe same stringent quality standards regard-less of their sources. Large public water sys-tems typically use surface waters; communi-ty water systems from Kittery to Eastport toPresque Isle rely on surface sources. Surfacewaters commonly require the most treat-ment, as they are more susceptible to natu-ral and manmade contamination.

Surface-water treatment typicallyincludes filtration and disinfection. Filtra-

tion removes particulate and organic mat-ter; techniques can vary and in Maine caninclude conventional, direct, slow sand, car-tridge, or membrane filtration.

CCoonnvveennttiioonnaall ffiillttrraattiioonn has several steps,including flocculation, sedimentation, fil-tration, and disinfection. Flocculation refersto treatment processes that combine orcoagulate small particles together, which set-tle out of the water as sediment. Alum oriron salts or synthetic organic polymers pro-mote coagulation. After flocculation andsedimentation, the water passes through asand, garnet, or anthracite filter to “polish”the water and capture remaining fine parti-cles. The water is then disinfected to ensureinactivation of any viruses, bacteria, or otherdisease-causing organisms.

DDiirreecctt ffiillttrraattiioonn is similar, with the excep-tion of the sedimentation step. With directfiltration, water flows directly to the filterafter the coagulation step and all sediment is

trapped on the filter.SSllooww ssaanndd ffiillttrraattiioonn operates without the

coagulation step. Water is passed at veryslow rates through a sand filter before disin-fection. The slow sand filter develops a bio-logically active top layer that provides treat-ment of organic matter in addition to thesand media’s physical barrier. This was thefirst method of municipal water filtration inthe U.S., dating to 1872.

CCaarrttrriiddggee ffiillttrraattiioonn is a physical barriercomprised of various permeable fabrics thatremove solids from water. Cartridge filterscome in various shapes and sizes and weredeveloped for small water systems as a con-venient, cost-effective filtration method.

MMeemmbbrraannee ffiillttrraattiioonn is a thin layer ofsemi-permeable material that separateswater as a function of chemical and physicalcharacteristics when pressure is appliedacross the membrane. Microfiltration,ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, and reverseosmosis are membrane processes across aspectrum of filter performance that meas-ures the effectiveness of the membranebased on the molecular size or the molecu-lar weight cutoff of the membrane. Micro-filtration can remove particles, microorgan-isms, and organic matter larger than 0.1micron on one end of the scale, and reverseosmosis can be used to desalinate salt wateron the other end. The first large-scale mem-brane-filtration plant in Maine is currentlyunder construction.

After filtration, disinfection is used todestroy or inactivate disease-causingmicroorganisms. Maine water systems dis-infect with chlorine, chloramines, ozone,and ultraviolet light. Each technique hasspecific effectiveness and cost benefits. MostMaine water systems disinfect to ensure ade-quate treatment at the treatment facility and

throughout the distribution systemthat delivers water to homes or busi-nesses. There are 10 public water sys-

tems in Maine that use surface watersources that treat with only disinfection

because their water sources are clean andprotected enough to not need filtration.

Treatment of groundwater sources differsbecause groundwater is less exposed tomicrobial or organic contaminants andmore exposed to inorganic contaminantssuch as arsenic, nitrates, and nitrite.Groundwater is also exposed to radon andother naturally occurring radionuclides.Common in Maine groundwater, elevatedlevels of iron, manganese, and hardness thatcan cause significant aesthetic issues with-out corresponding health risks.

Treatment for removal of nitrate, nitrite,iron, and manganese generally requires oxi-dation and filtration but can also be accom-plished with ion-exchange techniques. Ionexchange uses special media and chloride,sodium, or potassium ions that areexchanged from the surface of the media infavor of the contaminant ion that is highlyattracted to the media surface as the waterflows through the media bed. Ion exchangecan be used to remove arsenic and radionu-clides such as uranium and radium.

Some water systems are using adsorptivemedia such as activated alumina or ferrichydroxide to capture and reduce arsenic, iron,and manganese levels in groundwater sources.These systems do not require frequent regen-eration of the media to be effective.

Radon commonly occurs in bedrock wellsin Maine; aeration removes it from ground-water. Radon moves rapidly from water toair when water is aerated and becomes non-detectable when mixed in the atmosphere.

Public water systems in Maine use thesetechniques and more to ensure that thewater delivered to your home or businessmeets or exceeds all state and federal drink-ing-water standards. For more informationabout the treatment techniques used byyour water system, give them a call.

How is water treated?


Erika BonenfantMAINE CDC DRINKING WATER PROGRAM

AA ccrroossss ccoonnnneeccttiioonn is a physical connec-tion between a source of clean, drinkablewater and a source that is unsafe, potential-ly unsafe, or undesirable to drink. Crossconnections make it possible for potentiallyhazardous, unsafe substances (or contami-nants) to enter a drinking-water supply andcause people to get sick or even die.

BBaacckkffllooww.. Water normally flows in onedirection through your plumbing systemand out your tap. It flows in reverse duringbackflow. When a cross connection exists, itis possible for an unwanted substance orcontaminant to backflow into the drinkingwater supply. Suction backflow pulls con-taminants into the drinking-water supply,like sucking liquid up a straw. Pressure back-flow occurs when the unsafe or unwantedsubstance has greater pressure than thedrinking water and therefore can force itsway into the drinking water supply.

EExxaammpplleess of cross connections andpotential backflow situations include:

• A hose submersed in a pool, bucket, or acar radiator. When pressure in the water sys-tem is lost (such as a main break, excesswater demand, or well-pump failure) thehose can suck up the water from the pool orbucket it’s in, drawing in with it any presentchemicals or bacteria.

• The discharge line from a home water-softening system that is directly plumbedinto the pipe to the septic system.

• Lawn and garden chemical sprayersattached to hoses.

• A hose attached to a utility sink, orattached to a faucet that extends below the

top of a sink or tub.• A hose hooked up to a pressure washer

with soap.CCoonncceerrnnss.. Backflow has the potential to

make people sick, especially if a dangerousor poisonous material enters into the drink-ing water, such as chemicals used for clean-ing or treating lawns. Backflow is also unex-pected; many people think it can’t or won’thappen to them, but it is hard to predictwhen a loss of pressure in your water systemcan happen. And, if you have a cross con-nection, you could end up with backflowinto your water supply.

Look for cross connections:• Check any hoses and be diligent about

not submersing a hose in a tank, pool, buck-et, or other container.

• Check all sinks or tubs to make sure thatthe end of the faucet does not extend belowthe top of the sink or tub and does not havea hose attached to it.

• Check any waste lines from water sof-teners or water treatment systems and makesure that if the line goes into a septic orsewer line, it is not directly connected. Thereshould be a gap between where the softeneror treatment system waste line enters theseptic or sewer line, called an air gap.

WWhhoo iiss rreessppoonnssiibbllee ffoorr pprreevveennttiinngg bbaacckk-ffllooww?? Everyone. Homeowners need to beaware of the potential hazards of cross con-nections and identify, eliminate, and preventthem around the house. It is also importantfor plumbers, plumbing inspectors, code-enforcement officers, water-utility person-nel, and water-treatment installers to beaware of cross connections and to preventthem — or, if they do exist, to properly pro-tect them to make sure that backflow does-n’t occur. Public water systems are regulated

by the state to ensure that they are protectedagainst cross connections and are aware andattentive to protecting public health fromcross connections.

HHooww ttoo pprreevveenntt bbaacckkffllooww• Be aware of the hazards and prevent and

eliminate cross connections.• Install backflow-prevention devices.

One inexpensive, easy-to-install, and effec-tive device you can install on your hose spig-ot is a vacuum breaker, also called a “hosebibb vacuum breaker.” These devices, avail-able at hardware stores, screw directly ontoyour outside hose spigot and can preventsuction backflow. There are other backflowprevention devices that can be used to pre-vent backflow due to pressure and also toprevent backflow from high-hazard crossconnections, such as some lawn irrigationsystems or fire-sprinkler systems.

• Check to make surethat anything you hook up to your watersupply has the appropriate backflow preven-tion device, such as your pressure washer orlawn and garden chemical applicator. If youdon’t know, ask a plumbing professional.

• If you have any plumbing work done,such as installing a water-softening systemor dishwasher, you should check with theplumber to make sure they are providingappropriate backflow prevention.

FFoorr mmoorree iinnffoorrmmaattiioonn,, ccoonnttaacctt::• Your local water district or department

(if you’re supplied by public water)• Your local plumbing inspector • A state inspector from the Plumbers’

Examining Board & Office of Licensing &Registration

• The Maine Center for Disease Control’sDrinking Water Program


From CROSS CONNECTIONSand BACKFLOW


By John StorerAUBURN WATER DISTRICT

In February 2009, Congress passed theAmerican Recovery and Reinvestment Act toencourage job growth in an attempt to stim-ulate the nation’s economy. In Maine, theDrinking Water Program elected to disburseARRA money through the Drinking WaterState Revolving Loan Fund. The Auburn andLewiston water utilities were successful insecuring a $7.7 million ARRA funding pack-age through the DWSRF, including $2.3 mil-lion in a grant and a zero-interest loan forPhase 1 of a new joint ultraviolet-light dis-infection treatment facility.

To administer the ARRA funds statewide,the DWP identified infrastructure projectsnecessary for public water systems to con-tinue providing safe drinking water toMainers. Some targeted projects includeddrinking-water treatment systems improve-ments; replacement of old and vulnerablewater mains (some of which are as old as100 years); pump station, wells, and storagefacilities improvements; and 20 percent ofstimulus funding for energy-efficiencyimprovements

All told, the DWP successfully adminis-tered $38 million to qualifying public watersystems as low-interest loans and grants andutilized all the available federal funding pro-vided to the State. These funds help defraycosts to the ratepayers for the necessaryinfrastructure improvements.

In anticipation of the stimulus bill, theLewiston Water Division and Auburn WaterDistrict worked together to apply for fund-ing of the UV facility. Installation of a sec-ondary treatment technology is required tomeet the Phase 2, Long Term Surface WaterTreatment Rule of the Safe Drinking WaterAct. This rule requires that each public sur-

face-water supply provide two forms of dis-infectants to meet statutory levels of inacti-vation for viruses and bacteria.

In 2004, the two water utilities beganevaluating the impact of pending water-quality regulations. The objective was todetermine the best approach to protect thehealth of the water users while providing themost responsible and cost-effective solutionto meet these goals. The firm of Camp,Dresser and McKee of Cambridge, Mass. wasretained to evaluate options for providing asecondary disinfection process. After evalu-ating over 64 alternatives, the utilities con-cluded that adding UV reactors to its treat-ment train would provide the best short-and long-term approach to meet the water-quality regulation.

To maximize potential for funding thefacilities, the project components were pri-oritized and designed to be phased in. Thethree phases are UV process, pumping andcontrol equipment; chemical facilities; andlaboratory, administration areas, and opera-tions and storage areas.

The cost to complete Phases 2 and 3 of theproject are estimated to be approximately$3.94 million.

The joint UV facility is being constructedon the southern shore of Lake Auburn adja-cent to the existing treatment facilities. Thenew UV building was designed to obtainLeadership in Energy and EnvironmentalDesign certification to meet the 20 percentEnergy Efficiency requirement of ARRAfunding. As designed, the project involvesconverting the Auburn high-lift pump sta-tion to a low-lift station to pump to the newUV facility. The design also made provisionsfor the future additional of filtration units,should additional treatment ever berequired.

The utilities are pursuing additionalfunding to complete Phases 2 and 3.

Stimulus funding allows Lewiston-Auburn tobegin joint UV-light disinfection facility

The August 11, 2009 groundbreaking of the UV-light disinfection facility, a jointproject of Lewiston and Auburn. Photo courtesy of Auburn Water District.


Jeff LaCasseKENNEBEC WATER

DISTRICT

In 1899, the Kennebec Water District waschartered as the first water district in theU.S. KWD is a public water utility servingWaterville, Fairfield, Winslow, Benton, andVassalboro.

Maine was very active in the Civil War,sending 70,000 to fight. At the end of thewar, approximately 10 percent of Maine’spopulation was lost — some as war casual-ties, but others were dissatisfied with theconditions in Maine and sought opportuni-ty elsewhere. Thousands went to the Missis-sippi Valley where the federal governmentwas practically giving away farms. Mainelost much of its potential for a vibrant eco-nomic base. To offset this, many Mainecommunities began to exempt mills and fac-tories from taxes and several went into debt— in some cases up to 50 percent of valua-tion — to finance the building of railroads.The communities’ debt problems spurredthe Maine legislature to put a 5 percent con-stitutional limit on how much debt amunicipality could accumulate.

By the 1880s, many small private watersystems served Maine communities, andseveral companies sold bottled spring water.Neither was very customer-friendly; theprivate systems had quality issues, andspring water was expensive. Centralizeddowntown business areas were developingin many municipalities, and several majordowntown fires spurred the need to developwater systems to provide both adequate fireprotection and reliable water for drinkingand sanitation. Because such systems wouldserve the public good, it made sense formunicipalities to own and operate them.

The debt limit that municipalities couldincur posed a problem in doing this. Watersystems, consisting of pipes, hydrants,pumps, and storage tanks, were costly todevelop; without the ability to borrow largesums, there was no way the towns couldfinagle the necessary financing.

In Waterville, attorney Arthur D. Eaton,with assistance from partner WalterWyman, an engineer (two visionaries whoalso combined to start Central MainePower), was the force behind finding a solu-tion to the municipal-funding dilemma.Eaton, while returning on foot from a trip toOakland, looked over the valley containing

Waterville, Fairfield,Winslow, and Benton,and had a “Eureka!”moment. His conceptwas to develop a

water “district” that spanned several com-munities, was predicated on providing onlyone public service (water supply), and wasfunded independently from individualmunicipalities to avoid the debt restrictions.His proposal received legislative approvaland the Kennebec Water District was char-tered to begin existence in 1899. Many localleaders had opposed the concept as theydidn’t want the cost burdens of the project,but eventually the towns of Waterville andthe Fairfield Village Corporation approvedparticipation in the district.

There remained some practi-cal problems. First, Eaton actu-ally had to get legislation passedto allow districts to borrowfrom out-of-state banks, prima-rily Massachusetts banks, asMaine banks did not have theassets available for such largefinancial endeavors. Second, thenewly chartered KennebecWater District had to completethe process of taking over theexisting works of the MaineWater Company, which hadstarted a private system inWaterville using Messalonskee

Stream as its source. The litigation lastedseveral years; KWD won, paying$503,475.37 for the assets of Maine WaterCompany in October 1903. The first steptaken by the KWD trustees was to begin theprocess of moving the source from Messa-lonskee Stream to China Lake in order toavoid using the often contaminated watersof the stream for the KWD source.

In Maine today, there are some municipalwater departments and some private watersuppliers, but water districts abound and allcan thank Eaton’s foresight for the structurethat allows them to flourish. The modeloriginally constructed for water utilities alsoformed the basis for other districts acrossthe U.S. including sewer, school, fire, soiland water conservation, and others.

Kennebec Water DistrictThe first water district in the nationA Splash of

HISTORY

By the Staff at thePortland Water District

In 1862, a group of citizens foresaw thenecessity of improving the water supply tothe Portland community to ensure contin-ued growth. The once-adequate privatewells were no longer sufficient for increasingdomestic and fire protection use. These citi-zens formed the Portland Water Company.In 1869, the first water flowed from Sebago

Lake to Portland, and thefirst water service wasturned on in Portland onThanksgiving Day.

In 1908, the Portland Water Districtbought the Portland Water Company plantand the Standish Water and ConstructionCompany, and began serving the cities ofPortland, South Portland, and Westbrook,the town of Cape Elizabeth, the GorhamWater Company, and the Falmouth WaterCompany.

In the 20 or so years that followed, expan-sion continued, including the amendmentof the Portland Water District’s charter tosupply water to the towns of Cumberland,Falmouth, and Gorham, and to the islandsin Casco Bay. During the next 45 years,Greater Portland established itself as anindustrial and financial center of the state.The Portland area’s growth required several

expansions of thePortland Water Dis-trict’s plant, includ-ing construction ofwater supply systemsto serve NorthWindham, SteepFalls, Standish Vil-lage, and Standish Corner.

A Splash of

HISTORY

Portland Water District

Depiction of the Two Cent Bridge over the Kennebec,circa 1906, just a few years after the Kennebec Water

District became the first of its kind in the U.S.

By Greg CataldoWOODARD & CURRAN

It’s easy to take water for grant-ed. It’s everywhere: in our lakesand rivers, in the rain and snow-fall, and when you turn on yourtap. Most people rarely spare athought for where their fresh,clean water comes from, buttragedies like the recent earth-quake in Haiti make it clear justhow crucial access to water is toour health and survival. Natureprovides water, but public utilitieslike water and wastewater treat-ment facilities play crucial roles inbringing it to you and protectingthe water cycle.

Water moves through our envi-ronment in a continuous cycle. It

enters the atmosphere throughevaporation from streams, rivers,lakes, and oceans, and throughtranspiration, the process by whichplants release water from theirleaves that they have taken inthrough their roots. Once in theatmosphere, water condenses intoclouds. When the clouds becomeheavy enough, the water falls backto earth as rain or snow, wheresome re-enters surface water andsome percolates down through thesoil and rock to recharge under-ground aquifers. This is wherewater utilities get involved.

TThhee RRoollee ooff WWaatteerraanndd WWaasstteewwaatteerr UUttiilliittiieess

Water treatment and distribu-tion facilities generally extractwater from the ground in order to

provide it to the communities theyserve. Instead of simply pumpingit out to residents, they first treatthe water to remove any potential-ly harmful minerals or com-pounds so they don’t find theirway into residents’ bodies whenthey drink or cook with the waterfrom their taps.

Water treatment systems alsouse disinfection technologies toprevent the growth of bacteria inwater distribution systems, so thatclean water leaving the treatmentplant doesn’t become contaminat-ed on its way to residents. Thistreatment ensures that only high-quality water reaches your tap,helping safeguard public health.

Wastewater utilities serve anequally critical function. Whenwater and waste leave a house andenter a sewer system, they aretransported to a wastewater treat-ment facility. At the facility, screensare used to remove large debrisand a series of clarifiers and aera-tion tanks, pumps, and other

machines separate most of thesolid waste from the water. Thewater is then treated to eliminatemuch of the bacteria and othercompounds that could adverselyaffect the environment. Oncetreatment is complete, water is dis-charged back into the environ-ment, where it rejoins the watercycle.

Water and wastewater utilitiesare essential to the way we live,particularly in larger communities.They allow us to participate in thewater cycle safely, bringing us thewater we need to live, and protect-ing the environment from the neg-ative impacts of untreated waste.Both utilities are critical to ourhealth and our way of life.


What your waterutility does for you

By Jeff McNellyMAINE WATER UTILITIES ASSN.

Most water systems in our country’smajor cities were constructed aroundthe time of the Industrial Revolution.The earliest water mains were madefrom bored out wooden logs. Toaccess the water mains during a fire,

it was necessary to excavate thearea down to the pipe and thenbore a hole into it to tap into thewooden pipe, thereby allowingthe water to be collected bybuckets or a hose to fight thefire. After use, the woodenmain would be plugged by atapered piece of wood that

had been whittled to size;this water plug was

then inserted intothe hole in thewooden pipe and

the area dug out to access the main filledback in.

It was truly a hunt-and-peck method ofaccessing water mains during fires. Theadvent of cast-iron pipe in the early 19thcentury was heralded as a great improve-ment, and permanent access points to themains evolved from there. Fire protectionwas then readily available at designatedpoints in the distribution system simplyby connecting the fire hose to a hydrantvalve.

Community water providers not onlyhave the task of providing adequate treat-ment to ensure the water is safe to drink, butthey must also provide a reasonable networkof piping to distribute that water to cus-tomers and some means of providing ade-quate pressure throughout the system. A sig-nificantly greater investment, however, isrequired to also provide the flows and pres-sures required to extinguish fires.

There are many critical design consider-ations needed in the development of any

public water supply that also providesfire protection. After adequate sizing ofthe mains to handle the watervolumes required for fire protec-tion, the placement and sizingof storage facilities are key. Theirsize, height, type, location, andcomposition are totally dependentupon the hydraulics of any givensystem.

In recent years, new building andplumbing codes requiring sprinklersystems has enhanced fire protection — notonly in larger commercial structures but, inmany towns and cities, residential single andmulti-family dwellings as well. Sprinkler sys-tems can put out localized, smaller firesbefore they spread throughout a structuremore quickly and with less water volumethan if fire hydrants have to be tapped to theircapacity. To assist with public fire fighting,hydrants are typically color-coded through-out water systems indicating the pressure andvolume of water available. This can help

maximize the effectiveness ofextinguishing any given fire.

Overall, there are manybenefits from a public water

system that is designed,constructed, and main-

tained with fire protectionbeing a primary considera-

tion. The most obvious benefitis the protection of life and

property; the value of a housediminishes the most when it is on

fire! Structures located on publicwater systems also have lower insurancerates than structures that are not. For every$100 of residential insurance, a homeownerwould be paying an additional $58 ifunprotected by the availability of hydrantsfor fire protection. According to the MaineFire Marshal’s office, billions of dollars arelost each year in this country to fires. Hav-ing a public water supply that makes fireprotection a priority in your community isindeed a good thing!


The role of in

By Norm LamieAUBURN WATER DISTRICT

The first corporation to manage the distri-bution of water in Auburn was the privatelyowned Auburn Aqueduct Company, formedin 1869. The three men who founded thiscompany, Frank Jordan, Edward Little, andJoel Vickery, had decided to personally laylog piping to provide water to their own

homes from springs near HighStreet. The desire of many of theirneighbors to connect to this linespawned the formation of the company. In1870, the Auburn Aqueduct Company built areservoir on High Street at a cost of $700.

In the late 1880s, a water line froze andcustomers affected were told simply thatthey must take their water from the river.The Soap House Fire of 1890 brought thingsto a culminating point. The Soap House

burned as firefighters tried helplessly topump water out of a pressureless nozzle.The Soap House Fire roused a great deal ofcitizen agitation that led city officials to seektheir own authorization to form a separatepublic entity to manage the water system forthe city. A series of subsequent public re-organizational structures eventually led to

the formation of theAuburn Water Dis-trict in 1923, thepublic entitycharged with pro-viding drinkingwater to Auburncustomers to this day.

By Kathy MoriartyBANGOR WATER DISTRICT

Can you imagine water that tastedlike “sawdust and moose dropping”?

That’s how Bangor’s water, drawn from the Penobscot River,was described in the 1940s. Towns and industries upriver sentwaste of all types downstream, presenting a serious challengefor those charged with maintaining drinkable water. Even ear-lier in the city’s history, outbreaks of typhoid appeared to belinked to city water, resulting in construction of filter plant in1908 and later the addition of chlorine to the treatmentprocess.

By the mid-1950s — and after no small amount of debate— sentiment for a new source of water carried a public vote,and Bangor’s water department gave way to the Bangor WaterDistrict. Legislative action allowed the District to tap FloodsPond in Otis as a new, pristine source of drinking water — thesame source that is used today.

On July 28, 1959, water began flowing from Floods Pond viaJohnston Pump Station. In the ensuing years, other changeshave occurred — including an updated treatment plant, and ashift from “flat rate” to “metered” service to fairly charge cus-tomers based on use.

Today, Bangor Water District provides service to parts ofseven communities as well as the Hampden Water Districtthrough 180 miles of pipe and 11,000 individual service lines,and pumps an average of 4 million gallons per day.

TThhee QQuueeeenn CCiittyy’’ss CCrroowwnnThomas Hill Standpipe, which holds 1.75 million gallons of

water, is a riveted, wrought-iron tank with a wood frame jack-et located on Thomas Hill in Bangor. The tank is 50 feet highand 75 feet in diameter. Built in l897, it is the Bangor WaterDistrict’s oldest standpipe and has been in use since its con-struction. Its purpose is the same today: to help regulate Ban-gor’s water pressure in the downtown area and to providewater storage for emergencies.

The construction employed 22 men and erected a portablesaw mill and blacksmith shop on the site. The entire projecttook about six months to complete. It’s really two structuresin one; the standpipe consists of steel plates riveted one out-side the other. The building that encloses it is 85 feet in diam-eter and 110 feet high. Originally, the exterior was painteddark gray with the pillars and latticework painted white. Dur-ing World War II, it was painted drab olive for camouflagepurposes, but was repainted white in 1949. Once open to thepublic, it was closed in the 1940s following an accident inwhich an 11-year-old boy was killed when he fell while climb-ing on beams under the stairway. A fire-detection system anda “dry” sprinkler system, which can be filled from an outsidehydrant, were added several years ago to protect the landmarkstructure.

This standpipe is a National Historic Landmark as desig-nated by the Register of Historic Places and the Maine His-toric Preservation Commission. It is also designated an Amer-ican Water Landmark by the American Water Works Associa-tion and a state civil engineering landmark by the AmericanSociety of Civil Engineers.

A Splash of

HISTORY

Auburn Water District

Top: The Thomas Hill Standpipe today. (NEWS Photo by DavidM. Fitzpatrick.) Right: The 1.75-million-gallon Standpipe under

construction in 1897. The inner steel structure is visible here.The project, employing 22 men, took six months to complete.

Bangor Water DistrictA Splash of

HISTORY



Maine Water Bodies that arePublic Water SourcesUnfiltered sources appear in italics.

SSOOUURRCCEE .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..WWAATTEERR SSYYSSTTEEMMAdams Pond . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Boothbay Region Water DistrictBig Wood Pond . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jackman Water DistrictBoulter Pond . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Kittery Water DistrictBranch Brook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Kennebunk, Kennebunkport, Wells Water DistrictBranch Lake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ellsworth Water DepartmentCarlton Pond . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Greater Augusta Utility DistrictChases Pond . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .York Water DistrictChina Lake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Kennebec Water DistrictCobbossee Lake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Greater Augusta Utility DistrictEagle Lake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bar Harbor Water DepartmentFloods Pond . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bangor Water DistrictRound Pond . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Vinalhaven Water DistrictFresh Pond . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .North Haven Water DepartmentFerguson Pond . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Aqua Maine, Millinocket Division Grassy Pond . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Aqua Maine, Camden & Rockland DivisionHalls Pond . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Hebron Water CompanyHancock Pond . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Madison/Anson Water DistrictsHatcase Pond . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Brewer Water DepartmentJordan Pond . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mt. Desert Water DistrictKennebec River . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Aqua Maine Skowhegan DivisionKnickerbocker Pond . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Boothbay Region Water DistrictLake Anasagunticook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Canton Water DistrictLake Auburn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Auburn Water District and Lewiston Water DivisionLake Wassookeag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dexter Utilities DistrictLittle Madawaska River . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Loring Development AuthorityLittle Pond . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Great Salt Bay Sanitary DistrictLong Pond (Southwest Harbor) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Southwest Harbor Water CompanyLong Pond (Sullivan) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Long Pond Water DistrictLower Hadlock Pond . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mt. Desert Water DistrictMirror Lake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Aqua Maine, Camden & Rockland DivisionMoose Hill Pond . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Livermore Falls Water DistrictNequasset Lake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bath Water DistrictLower Pond . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Aqua Maine Skowhegan DivisionNokomis Pond . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Newport Water DistrictNorth Pond . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Buckfield Water DepartmentPattee Brook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Fort Fairfield Utility DistrictPresque Isle Stream . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Presque Isle Water DistrictSaco River . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Biddeford and Saco Water CompanySalmon Falls River . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Berwick Water DepartmentSalmon Pond . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dover-Foxcroft Water DistrictSebago Lake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Portland Water District/Frye Island WaterSebec River . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Milo Water DistrictSilver Lake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Aqua Maine, Bucksport DivisionPetite Brook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .St. Francis Water DistrictUpper Narrows Pond . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Winthrop Utilities DistrictVarnum Pond . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wilton Water DepartmentYoung Lake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mars Hill & Blaine Water Company

Jeff LaCasseKENNEBEC WATER

DISTRICT

In 1902 and 1903, a typhoid-fever epi-demic claimed 74 deaths in the Watervilleand Augusta area. Out of 723 total cases,there were 371 cases and 40 deaths in Water-ville. The cause of the epidemic was con-tamination of the public water supplies.

Typhoid was not unheard of in Watervilleprior to the epidemic. From 1892 to 1900there were typically two or three typhoiddeaths annually. However, that numberexploded over the winter of 1902-1903.Thankfully, the epidemic faded over thecourse of the winter with the natural dissi-pation of the epidemic’s precursors.

An epidemiological study conducted bynoted expert George C. Whipple detailedthe perfect storm of events that led to theepidemic. The primary factors that com-bined to cause the catastrophe:

• There was a resident of the WatervilleAlms House who had typhoid. The AlmsHouse was in close proximity to Messa-lonskee Stream, between Waterville andOakland.

• There also were five typhoid cases in thehouse of a Waterville milkman who lived ashort distance away in Oakland next to thestream.

• In November 1902, both the milkmanand the Alms House cleaned their priviesand cesspools, spreading the contents onthe frozen soil of gardens next to thestream as fertilizer — without disinfectingthe contents.

• Heavy rains hit the area on December 16and again on December 22, washing the fer-tilizer into the stream.

• The intake for the Maine Water Compa-ny was about one mile downstream. At thattime, Maine Water Company served as thewater supplier for much of the urban sectorof Waterville. (The Kennebec Water Districtwas still in litigation to take over the works

of MWC in 1902 and 1903.)• Messalonskee Stream

empties into the KennebecRiver. In 1903, the city ofAugusta and the town ofRichmond both used theriver as their source and bothwere downstream of theMessalonskee. The contami-nated water from Messa-lonskee Stream eventuallycontaminated the waters ofthe Kennebec.

• Typhoid bacillis is veryhardy and stays viable inwater for an extended period.

• None of the water suppli-ers disinfected or filteredwater prior to pumping tocustomers.

Based on those factors, it’seasy to see how the epidemicspread from Oakland toWaterville to Augusta toRichmond. In fact, Whipplemade an exhaustive study ofseveral other water suppliesin the U.S. and Europe thathad similar epidemics around the sametime period, many with similar factors ini-tiating the epidemics.

As soon as the Kennebec Water Districtgained full control of the MWC works inOctober 1903, its trustees initiated thesearch for a new, safe water supply. As a pub-lic water utility, its mission was to provide aservice for the public good rather than forprofit. KWD began a massive undertakingto install eight miles of pipe from ChinaLake into Waterville. Pristine China Lakewater initially began flowing into the KWDsystem on May 23, 1905.

In 1910, another typhoid epidemic struckthe Waterville area. Focus naturally fell on

the water supply initially, but it was ulti-mately determined, in an epidemiologicalreport commissioned by the trustees of theKennebec Water District, that the source ofthe epidemic was infected milk from a localfarm.

The introduction of disinfection (prima-rily using chlorine) as a standard treatmentpractice for public water supplies takenfrom surface waters has been the primaryfactor in eliminating typhoid in drinking-water systems. Currently known as salmo-nella typhi, typhoid still exists in the world,as poor sanitation practices are still a prob-lem. Epidemics still occur with recent out-breaks in the Congo and in Haiti.

A Splash of

HISTORY


IMAGE COURTESY OF U.S. CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL

As more public water suppliers and well ownersbegan chlorinating water, the numbers of typhoid-

fever cases dropped dramatically. By 1950, typhoidhad been all but eradicated in the United States. Inthe 1902-1903 epidemic in the Augusta-Watervillearea, there were 723 cases; 371 of them, with 40deaths, were in Waterville alone. Typhoid is still a

major problem in many countries, particularly inAfrica, Asia, Central America, South America, and the

Middle East.

1902-1903: The waterborne typhoid epidemic

By Madeleine StorerAQUA MAINE

In 2009, Aqua Maine Inc. began con-struction of a $7 million water treatmentplant expansion to provide membrane fil-tration at its Mirror Lake facility. The Mir-ror Lake water system serves approximate-ly 25,000 people in the communities ofRockland, Rockport, Camden, Thomas-ton, Owls Head, and Warren. The newtreatment technology is expected to be inoperation in August 2010.

Like other Maine water systems, thepristine water supply of Mirror Lake has,to date, met all the regulatory require-ments for public drinking water withoutfiltration because of its excellent waterquality. But new Environmental Protec-tion Agency regulations under the SafeDrinking Water Act require further treat-ment beyond Aqua Maine’s currentprocess. This is not due to any degrada-tion in Mirror Lake, but to ensure that thewater treatment process can fully protectcustomers from newly regulated contami-nants.

Specifically, all surface-water systems inthe U.S. must provide specific treatment

for Cryptosporidium, a chlorine-resistantmicrobiological pathogen that has beenthe cause of waterborne disease outbreaksin other states. The new regulations alsorestrict disinfection byproducts in thewater distribution system. After a lengthyreview of alternatives, it was determinedthat adding filtration to the Mirror Lakesystem would be the most cost-effectivelong-term solution.

Traditional water-filtration facilities usechemicals to consolidate suspended anddissolved organic material before largemedia filters to remove unwanted parti-cles and contaminants. The facilities tendto be large and expensive to operate. Afterthree years of pilot testing, Aqua selected amicrofiltration membrane system fromPall Corporation in New York. The processsimply strains the water through a micro-scopic membrane using pressure. Unwant-ed particles and contaminants are trappedon the membrane as the water passesthrough. This will be the first large-scalemembrane-filtration facility in Maine,and the application of this technology ispossible because of the superior quality ofMirror Lake.

Benefits of the membrane technologyinclude:

• Capable of capturing natural organicmaterial as well as all other particles,including bacteria and protozoa.

• Highly efficient, offering low operat-ing and maintenance costs in comparisonwith other filtration technologies.

• No chemical addition needed prior tothe filters; a greener process.

• Requires a relatively small footprint.The building addition to house the new

filters is designed to LEED standards forcommercial structures, and active solarenergy will assist in heating the waterneeded to clean the membranes. Microfil-tration membrane technology is an inno-vative treatment technique that uses cleanand efficient technology to producepotable water capable of meeting newmore stringent regulations without theneed for additional chemical additives.

By Richard BurnhamLEWISTON PUBLIC SERVICES DEPT.

The city of Lewiston began providingpublic water to its residents in 1872,using the Androscoggin River as thesource. At that time, the Water Commis-sion was authorized $600,000 to developthe plant required for the downtown. Apump station was built where the CMPHydro Power Plant is currently located,which withdrew water from the

Androscoggin River. Fourteenmiles of water pipe wereinstalled, including the 24-inch-diameter water main on Main Street andthe 20-inch main on Sabattus Street. Anearly goal was to develop water storage;by 1900, the so-called Webber AvenueReservoir was built and connected to thesystem.

Recognizing the risk of pollution to theexisting source, the city obtained statestatutory rights to use Lake Auburn as apublic water supply. Pressured by pollu-

tion in the river, the city developed thelake as its source by constructing a new17,500-foot-long, 24-inch-diameter cast-iron transmission main from the lake,crossing the river at the upper part of thefalls and connecting to the existing pumpstation. Water wheels provided power forpumping, and the distribution systemgrew as the city grew.

The city acquired water rights from the

Franklin companyto develop hydropower and installeda turbine in theexisting pump sta-tion to generateelectric power for running the pump sta-tion and the city’s street lights. The WaterDivision as we know it today was estab-lished in the mid-1960s.

A Splash of

HISTORY


Lewiston Water Works

Microfiltration membrane technology comes to Maine


Jonathan LaBonteANDROSCOGGIN LAND TRUST

Since 1989, the Androscoggin Land Trusthas worked to protect important natural areas,traditional landscapes and the outdoor experi-ence in the Androscoggin River watershedthrough land conservation and stewardship.While we have successfully conserved over3,600 acres, predominantly near the popula-tion centers of the watershed in Lewiston,Auburn, Lisbon, and Livermore Falls, thecommunity benefits of conserving land are

not always understood.At its core, conserving land puts in place

some level of restriction on a piece of proper-ty in perpetuity. This restriction, in the case ofland trusts, must pass a legal test of providingfor public benefit. After all, as non-profitorganizations, land trusts need to demonstratethat they serve the public good.

Restrictions can take various forms. Theymight allow building recreational trails, helpto ensure that land stays available to supportfarming or sustainable-timber harvesting, orprotect sensitive natural areas important forwildlife or watersheds. There are many reasons

why land mightbe protectedthrough conser-vation in projectsthat our organi-zation and otherst h r o u g h o u tMaine haveundertaken.

Conser v ingland often meansacquiring owner-ship of the landor putting inplace a conserva-tion easement, a

legal document restricting the property andputting the enforcement of those restrictionsin the hands of a third party. Unlike a landtrust or community owning land, an easementis placed on property still owned by a privateparty.

To advance conservation in our region, ittakes more than simply the vision and part-nerships between land trusts and the commu-nity. Conservation-minded and willinglandowners are the critical ingredient to makeland protection a success. For many Mainefamilies, land has been passed down from gen-eration to generation, so capturing the spiritand ethic of that family connection to landoften becomes central to helping conserve it.

The connection between land conservationand the value we place on the watersheds ofour community drinking water supplies isworth a closer look. Land naturally acts as abuffer and filter to pollutants introduced intothe environment. And although these “ecosys-tem services” have their limits, they often offerthe most efficient line of defense for our com-munities’ public drinking water. Protectingland from development through conservationcan help to sustainably protect drinking waterfrom a key driver of water-source degradation.

According to reports from the Environ-mental Protection Agency, the leading cause of

negative impacts on drinking water sources isnonpoint source pollution. NPS is pollutionthat cannot be traced back to an exact loca-tion, such as an outlet pipe. It includes runofffrom lawns, fields, forests, driveways, roads,and parking lots.

While agriculture is currently the leadingNPS source nationally, runoff from areas ofresidential and commercial development is thefastest growing. With the cumulative effect ofdeveloping land and removing nature’s natu-ral buffers and pollutant filters, and the threatto watersheds and drinking-water sources issignificant.

Treatment and filtration are the most visibleand capital-intensive means to ensure safe,high-quality drinking water, but the scale ofthose systems is driven by the quality of thewater at the source. An integrated approachthat advances protecting the natural landscapein watersheds or aquifer recharge areas canreduce the magnitude of likely future invest-ments from the source to the tap.And the ben-efits flow beyond those potential cost savings.

Those same lands, conserved for a primaryfocus of safe drinking water, can also ensuresupport for local farms, timber supplies forarea businesses are sustained, and recreationalopportunities exist to enhance quality of lifefor residents and visitors alike.

Androscoggin Land Trust: Protecting watersheds through conservation

By Paul Thomas HuntPORTLAND WATER DISTRICT

That’s the slogan for the Sebago LakeLand Reserve, 1,800 forested acres located atthe southern end of Sebago Lake. Owned bythe Portland Water District, the land is opento the public for day-time recreationalaccess. The SLLR was established in 2005 inan effort to provide clean water and alsomeet the demand for public access.

The ideal water supply is a pristine lake ina remote, forested natural area which iscompletely owned by the state or water util-ity and is off-limits to the public. SebagoLake, the drinking water supply for 11Maine communities, doesn’t exactly fit thebill. It is located in populous southernMaine and is a treasured destination for vis-itors on vacation and native Mainers wholove the outdoors. The PWD owns 2,500acres of land around the Lower Bay of thelake, from where the drinking water isdrawn. This land is an irresistible draw forvisitors. For decades the public used it; nei-ther they nor the PWD had a clear idea ofwhat was allowed and what wasn’t. Someareas were fenced off; some were posted. Inothers, reasonable access was tolerated; in

others it wasn’t. The “system” that was usedthroughout the last century can best bedescribed as a passive-aggressive approachto land management: use the land in a wayyou think is reasonable and if we don’t like itwe’ll ask you to stop. It satisfied no one.

In 2005, the SLLR was established. Somekey features:

• The 700 acres closest to the lake (RedZone) and water intakes are fenced andposted “No trespassing.”

• The remaining 1,800 acres (GreenZone) are open for free recreational access.

• You access the Green Zone by fillingout a one-day permit at one of 11 visitorkiosks.

• Rules are clearly posted at each kioskand on the permit.

• The land is patrolled seven days a week;warning tickets are issued for violations.

• Multiple violators can have their visitorprivileges suspended.

• Hunting, hiking, and snowmobiling areallowed. Fires, camping, and ATV ridingare not.

The first visitors were welcomed in 2005.We consider the SLLR an unqualified suc-cess. Most importantly, our water qualitycontinues to be outstanding — but visitortraffic also continues to increase. The rules

are clear to thestaff and the pub-lic, so there arefew misunder-standings. Wecontinue toreceive mostlypositive feedbackfrom visitors.Some long-timevisitors who canno longer access aparticular loca-tion that is now inthe Red Zonemight be less glow-ing in their praise; this is the area closest toour shoreline intakes, where we never want-ed people anyway. Most visitors appreciatethe privilege and don’t want to lose it; theyhave become watchdogs, cleaning up trashthey find or reporting problems. We havemany more eyes and ears out there now.

Through visitors filling out permits andwarning tickets for violations, success can bemeasured: we know how many visit and weknow how often rules are broken. Ideally, thefirst number will go up and the seconddown; this is exactly what has happened. In2006, the first full year of kiosk use, we

recorded 6,059 visitors and 337 rules viola-tions. In 2009, we recorded 9,515 visitorsand 173 violations.

The Sebago Lake Land Reserve representsan effort to balance the need for clean, safewater with the public’s desire for outdoorrecreation. It is successful for at least twoimportant reasons. First, almost all visitorsrecognize that use of the land is a privilege,and they act accordingly. Second, the Port-land Water District has established a systemof permit and patrol that encouragesaccountable behavior. Visitors continue torespect the land and protect the lake.

Sebago Lake Land Reserve: ‘Respect the land, protect the lake’

Photo by Jeanne MacNevin

Bangor Daily News File Photo


Kirsten Ness, Water Resource SpecialistPORTLAND WATER DISTRICT

In a time of growing populations, stress on naturalresources is increasing. Water is one of our most importantand vulnerable resources, even in a state as water-rich asMaine. Clean water is necessary for recreation, economics,and safe drinking water. Conservation is important to helppreserve clean water for future generations.

Water conservation at the residential level can help reduceyour water and wastewater bills, but also help reduce the

storm water that flows off your property. Storm water car-ries pollutants to rivers and lakes that can reduce water qual-ity. If the water body is a source of drinking water, pollutantscould lead to increased costs in treating water to make it safeto drink. Pollutants can also reduce the recreational and eco-nomic value of a water body.

There are many ways to conserve water in and aroundyour home.

• Turn off the water when you’re shaving or brushingyour teeth.

• Install a toilet dam to help reduce water usage whenyou flush.

• Use low-flow showerheads and take shorter showers.• Fix leaky faucets and toilets.• Purchase water-efficient appliances.• Keep a water pitcher in the refrigerator instead of run-

ning the faucet for cold water.• Use a rain barrel to collect roof runoff to water lawns

and gardens• Water lawns and gardens only when necessary.• Plant trees and shrubs that require less water.

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WATER WORD SEARCHFind the red words in the clues below in the word find!

1. Our local water utility maintains ffiirree hhyyddrraannttss.2. A period of time with little or no rainfall is called a ddrroouugghhtt.3. Pipes run underground and make up the iinnffrraassttrruuccttuurree of the water

system.4. Tap water protects us against the threat of ffiirree.5. Safe tap water contributes to quality of life by increasing productiv-

ity and ssaaffeettyy.6. Water utilities provide their customers with a report on the qquuaalliittyy

of their drinking water each year.7. Did you know that the first water systems in North America were

built to provide ffiirree pprrootteeccttiioonn?8. Only tap water delivers public health protection,fire protection,sup-

port for the eeccoonnoommyy, and the quality of life we enjoy.9. Replacing old pipes in the United States is expected to cost more

than 250 bbiilllliioonn dollars over the next 20 years.10. In 2004,U.S.fire departments responded to over one million fires

across the UUnniitteedd SSttaatteess.

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Three students at the University of Mainehave received scholarships from the MaineWater Utilities Association.

Sarah Lingley of Bangor, Tyler Marcet ofGorham, and Nathan Veilleux of Oaklandwere all honored with a $1,000 scholarshipby the Maine Water Utilities Association atits 84th annual meeting and trade show inPortland on February 8, 2010.

Lingley is a senior at UMaine and hasserved as a summer intern in the water util-ity field for Woodard & Curran, a 550-per-son, integrated engineering, science, andoperations company with nine locations inseven states, including offices in Bangor andPortland.

Marcet is also a senior at UMaine and hasserved as a summer intern in the water util-ity field for the Brunswick & Topsham WaterDistrict, which has served its two communi-ties since 1903.

Veilleux is a junior at UMaine and hasserved as a summer intern in the water util-ity field for the Greater Augusta UtilitiesDistrict.

“This is the second year we have had theprivilege of awarding these scholarships,”said MWUA Executive Director Jeff McNel-ly. “The Association’s Public AwarenessCommittee undertook the challenge ofdeveloping this scholarship program and wewere very pleased that we were able to raiseenough funds to be able to award threescholarships this year.”

The MWUA is a membership organiza-tion with many utility volunteers workingtogether to promote and ensure the deliv-ery of quality water and service to some750,000 customers throughout the state ofMaine. The MWUA was formed in 1925,and for the past 84 years has hosted anannual trade show. This year’s show,which was held at the Holiday Inn by theBay in Portland, ran February 8 and 9,2010, and featured water utilities, vendors,and other exhibitors connected to thewater industry.

For more information, please visit theassociation’s Web site at www.mwua.org orcall (207) 832-2263.

MWUA awards $1,000 scholarships to three UMaine students

BANGOR DAILY NEWS PHOTO BY DAVID M. FITZPATRICK

The MWUA awarded $1,000 scholarships to three students at the MWUA’s annualtrade show, held at the Holiday Inn in Portland in February 2010. Pictured hereare Mary Jane Dillingham of the Auburn Water District; Tyler Marcet, a UMaine

senior who interned at the Brunswick & Topsham Water District; Sarah Lingley, aUMaine senior who interned at Woodard & Curran; and John Storer, the outgoing

MWUA president. Absent from the trade show was the third winner, UMaine juniorNathan Veilleux. This is the second year the MWUA has awarded scholarships.

| MAINE WATER UTILITIES ASSOCIATION | Monday/Tuesday | … 2010 Insert.pdf · Maine Water Utilities...

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