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Updated: September 3, 2025

With sewer capacity strained, Yarmouth enacts six-month moratorium on some development

map of royal river sewershed COURTESY TOWN OF YARMOUTH The section of town under a newly enacted development moratorium encompases a wide swath of Yarmouth's downtown.
By Tina Fischer

Yarmouth Town Council has approved a six-month moratorium on further development in a large section of town, in an effort to stabilize the strained Royal River pump station, which has reached capacity.

The pump station experienced an overflow in January 2024 during a period of heavy rain. Untreated sewage flowed into the Royal River and surrounding grounds, precipitating a 21-day shellfish harvesting closure in the watershed. 

Over 1,260 properties will be affected by the moratorium in the section of town west of U.S. Route 1 and including much of Main and West Main streets, Sligo Road, West and East Elm streets and North Road.

The ban applies to all new construction and renovation projects not permitted prior to the moratorium’s effective date of Sept. 5, which would include the addition of plumbing or even another bedroom. 

The restriction can be extended if council deems it necessary.

November referendum

The Royal River pump station is located along the river near the Rowe School and manages approximately two-thirds of the town’s wastewater. It was built in 1967 and upgraded in 1992. A recent evaluation of the infrastructure found it was at or beyond its useful life. 

Yarmouth voters will be asked on the November ballot to approve a $7.5 million bond to fund replacement of the Royal River station, a project that is expected to take close to three years.

Last November, voters approved a $7 million price tag for the upgrade of the Harbor Pump Station. Council Chair Karin Orenstein told Mainebiz that that project is currently completing engineering design work, after which it will then go out to bond to pay for construction.


 

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