FREEPORT — The Freeport Sewer District (FSD) recently earned the Energy Management Achievement Award from the New England Water Environment Association (NEWEA).

According to a news release, the award recognizes an organization or facility that has established policies, created goals, and demonstrated progress toward reducing the amount of energy (electricity, gas, oil or other) used per unit of water treated.

FSD worked with Woodard & Curran, an engineering, science and operations company based in Portland, to conduct a comprehensive energy audit and detailed power assessment to benchmark existing conditions and energy use at the wastewater treatment facility. Data showed that the facility was not performing well in comparison to other wastewater treatment plants. In addition to high electrical use, FSD used more than 7,000 gallons of heating fuel annually.

Leland Arris, the plant’s general manager, and Woodard & Curran set out a plan to improve the facility’s treatment process and install a more efficient heating and cooling system. The two most promising features were an upgrade to the pumps and blowers used in the wastewater treatment process and improved insulation and air sealing of the facility.

FSD was the first utility to work with the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and utilize the State Revolving Loan Fund to have a design build project funded when it developed an effluent thermal project to replace an antiquated boiler heating system.

The work was funded through a grant from the Efficiency Maine Trust and the State Revolving Loan Fund. Together, these covered the capital cost of the projects. The resulting savings from the improvements is in excess of $80,000 per year in energy use and more than $25,000 in reduced annual heating fuel consumption.

“Because this upgrade created an immediate cash savings, it has allowed us to pursue additional projects without impacting rates in our community,” Arris said. “We’ve invested some of the savings in the yearly bond note for the projects, some in building improvements that further reduce our energy costs and the rest of the savings allowed the district to avoid sewer rate increases for ratepayers for the last two years.”

The award was presented at the NEWEA conference held at the end of January in Boston.

The Freeport Sewer District is a quasi-municipal corporation, which was established in 1948 for the purpose of providing and maintaining a sewer system for the collection, treatment and disposal of sewage. Visit www.freeportmaine.com for more information.

¦ THE FREEPORT SEWER District is a quasi-municipal corporation, which was established in 1948 for the purpose of providing and maintaining a sewer system for the collection, treatment and disposal of sewage. Visit www.freeportmaine.com for more information.