BIDDEFORD — Maine Water’s plans to build a new, $50 million water treatment plant in Biddeford and replace the more than 130-year-old existing facility on the Saco River are on schedule.

The company is also ready to meet regional water demands if and when there is a need.

It’s past time to replace the existing facility, say Maine Water executives. The current water treatment plant located on South Street was constructed in 1884; its last major upgrade was in 1936. The plant sits in the flood plain of the Saco River and has been placed out of service three times because of flooding.

The new plant, which is in currently in the concept design stage — with a scheduled completion date in June 2020 — will improve water delivery and quality for existing customers. In addition, according to statement from the company, it “has the potential to advance increased mutual aid between water utilities from Portland to Kittery, an effort that has been moving forward since 2005, when utility-sponsored legislation began the process of encouraging regional solutions for public water delivery in Maine.”

“Southern Maine seems to be growing,” said Maine Water President Judy Wallingford, “which is great.” As a result, the need for public water for the entire region will grow, and Maine Water will be ready to meet that demand, she said.

According to Wallingford, last fall the Southern Maine Regional Water Council released a technical update to a report originally released in 2008. The council — which comprises the water districts of Biddeford, Saco, Portland, Kennebunk, Kennebunkport, Wells, Sanford, South Berwick, Kittery and York and which was created by a law passed by the Legislature in 2005 — identified the Saco River and Sebago Lake as bodies of water “that might be expanded as regional supplies are integrated into a regional supply system in the future.” 

The report also stated that “a new regional water treatment facility could be constructed along the Saco River, sized to meet the projected needs of the entire region,” and Maine Water is prepared to meet to such needs.

Maine Water currently only “plans to build a facility to serve its existing customers,” said Wallingford. The new water treatment plant to be constructed in Biddeford will produce water for it’s 32,000 customers — about 90,000 people — in Bidideford, Saco, Old Orchard Beach and part of Scarborough.

However, it will produce 20 million gallons of water per day, double the amount currently produced at the South Street plant. The new facility, which will be located on a 450-acre site also on South Street across the street from the existing treatment plant, has plenty of room to expand if necessary. It can expand to meet the growing needs of those in its current coverage as well as help meet the needs of other nearby communities.

A regional water supply would be beneficial for a host of reasons, said Rick Knowlton, vice president of operations for Maine Water, ranging from emergencies to drought conditions such as those experienced last  year.

“Drought relief is just one benefit of regional connections, there are many others,” he said. “During the worst days of the recent drought, we drew just over one per cent of the river’s flow past our intake pipe in Biddeford. The ability of the Saco River to help others in times of drought is significant, and the incremental impact of additional water withdrawals would not be environmentally significant. The river is extremely clean, and it’s plentiful. Its potential to help the region with all its water needs is impressive, and its expanded use would reduce the environmental impact of stressed resources currently being used by some of the southern water systems.

“This new plant is a commitment to the next century of service to the families and the communities we now serve in Biddeford and Saco, Old Orchard Beach and Scarborough, to the continued responsible use and stewardship of the Saco River and to the broader southern Maine region,” said Knowlton in June when plans for the new facility were announced. “We hope that we can meet the growing needs of the region, and that our concept plan ensures that the option to expand the use of the Saco River for future drinking water purposes remains a viable one.”

SMRWC President Norm Labbe voiced his support for the new treatment plant in June. “The council is in full support of Maine Water Company’s proposed water treatment plant on the Saco River, and we’re excited about the new opportunities this will bring to the region,” Labbe said. “From the council’s perspective, this isn’t only about providing a needed upgrade … it’s also about striking a balance between the interconnectivity of our water systems and the diversification of our region’s water supply portfolio.”

— Associate Editor Dina Mendros can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 324, or dmendros@journaltribune.com. Staff Writer Alan Bennettcan be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 329 or abennett@journaltribune.com.