Maine Water leverages state program to invest in drinking water infrastructure in midcoast region
Courtesy / Maine Water Co.
Richard Knowlton, president of Maine Water Co., announced the water utility has received approval from the Maine Public Utilities Commission to recover more than $650,000 in infrastructure investments in its Camden-Rockland Division through Maine's Water Infrastructure Charge program.
Maine Water Co. received approval from the Maine Public Utilities Commission to recover more than $650,000 in investment in drinking water infrastructure though Maine’s Water Infrastructure Charge program.
“WISC allows proactive water utilities like Maine Water to systematically plan and replace aging drinking water infrastructure,” Richard Knowlton, president of Maine Water, said in a news release. “Through WISC, we are able to make regular investments in the replacement of aging water mains, valves, hydrants, storage tanks, treatment equipment, control systems and other assets that are needed to provide dependable water service. These investments enhance system reliability, water quality, public fire protection, and efficiency and reduce the amount of water lost to leaks.”
The costs of completed WISC projects are recovered through a surcharge on customer bills with MPUC authorization.
The WISC adjustment recently approved for Maine Water’s Camden-Rockland Division, which took effect on Feb. 1, includes a number of main and hydrant replacements and controls system improvements in the two communities. The adjustment will add about $0.19 per month to an average residential customer in the Camden-Rockport Division who uses 100 gallons of water per day.
In addition to improving reliability and water quality, replacing old pipe and distribution system infrastructure reduces water lost through leaks and breaks, reduces the environmental impact of pumping and treating that lost water, and can improve the amount of water available to fire hydrants on the water system.
Overall, since the inception of WISC in 2014, Maine Water has invested over $10 million to replace nearly 15 miles of aging water mains, replace pumps and booster pump stations, replace a 3.0-million-gallon water storage tank, and fund treatment facility pump and control system improvements.
“Our state legislators and the MPUC deserve credit for having the foresight to enable water system infrastructure replacement through a program such as WISC,” Knowlton said.
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