2024 Maine Water drinking water infrastructure projects increase reliability, quality
SACO, Maine, Jan. 8, 2025 — Maine Water invested $14 million updating drinking water infrastructure in 2024 with projects in 12 communities across the state to increase service reliability, improve flow for fire protection and maintain water quality for customers.
Among the investments, the company replaced more than 4 miles of water main with 20 projects under contract, began construction of a new treatment facility in Kezar Falls and enhanced water treatment processes in Millinocket.
“Maintaining aging infrastructure in Maine takes constant investment to provide high-quality water and reliable service to our customers,” said Maine Water President Mark Vannoy. “By proactively replacing aging water lines and upgrading treatment facilities and technology customers benefit from improved water quality, increased flow of water for fire protection and enhanced reliability to the area. Proactively replacing lines also saves money over having to replace lines during an emergency.”
Some of the water mains replaced in 2024 were more than 100 years old. Replacing the mains increases the reliability of infrastructure for generations to come.
2024 Projects of Note
On Ash Point Drive in Owls Head, Maine Water replaced and upsized 4,500 feet of old 6-inch cast iron main with new 8-inch, high density polyethylene main. This project greatly increased fire flows, particularly at Knox County Regional Airport, and will allow greater reliability for an area that has seen multiple main breaks in recent years due to old, unreliable pipe.
In Skowhegan, the company replaced 1,600 feet of water main along Fairview Avenue. The project helped to improve water flow available for fire protection and allows increased reliability for Fairview Reddington Hospital, and the adjacent area.
The Beach Street project in Saco consisted of replacing and upsizing about 1,900 feet of water main along Beach Street to replace water mains that were more than 130 years old. The new main replacement helped to improve fire flows, improve water quality, and create better redundancy for a main distribution line in the area. This project is part of a multi-phase replacement project in Saco.
A new drinking water treatment facility recently began serving our customers in Union, replacing an aging facility in need of an upgrade. The new facility will ensure reliable service for customers well into the future.
Water main replacement projects also took place in Camden, Rockland, Bucksport, Millinocket, Greenville, Oakland, and Hartland.
