Over $1.5 million in loans and $3.8 million in grants have been awarded to Central Maine communities for investment in water and wastewater infrastructure by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Bingham, Gardiner and Hartland are among five recipients of the USDA Rural Utilities Service Water and Environmental Program funding in Maine, U.S, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsak said in a press release.
Money was also awarded to the Eagle Lake Water and Sewer District in Aroostook County and the Indian Township Passamaquoddy reservation.
“These investments are critical for our health and safety, and in the long term for sustainable economic development,” Vilsack said in the news release. “The projects supported with these resources will ensure rural families have access to clean water and create jobs in communities across the country.”
The town of Hartland in Somerset County got $1.2 million in loans and $3.6 million in grant money for upgrades to the Hartland Pollution Control Facility, which treats wastewater from Tasman Leather Group, a tannery, as well as municipal waste.
“The funding packages may provide a few new jobs, however, it will definitely help preserve the 142 to 145 positions between the town and Tasman Leather Group,” said Town Manager Chris Littlefield in an email Friday.
The work includes fixing and replacing processing systems and machines to make the plant more efficient and conserve energy, Littlefield said. The total cost of the project is estimated to be about $7.4 million and includes a separate, $2.6 million funding package the town received last year.
Construction is scheduled to begin in 2015 and should be completed by December of 2018.
In Bingham and Gardiner, the money will go toward ongoing projects to upgrade sewer systems.
“It’s tightening up our system; we have a lot of (ground water) infiltration so we’re trying to get it all fixed up,” said Bingham First Selectman Steve Steward.
The $118,000 in loans and $177,000 in grant money that the town is getting will pay a portion of the estimated $2.4 million to upgrade the town’s sewer system, said Steward.
About 60 percent of the total cost is being funded by grants, including a different USDA grant for $900,000 that the town was awarded last year, said Steward. In the long run, making the repairs will save the town money because they won’t have to spend as much on water treatment due to ground water leaking into the system, he said.
The city of Gardiner is using its money — $188,000 in loans and $77,000 in grant money — to replace a 1,000-foot section of sewer near Cobbosseecontee Stream, which brings sewage down Cobossee Avenue, including from the Maine Turnpike Plaza and the Gardiner Regional Middle School.
“It’s an old, old decrepit sewer line that was probably put in in the ’60s, so it’s in imminent danger of failure,” said Doug Clark, director of the Wastewater and Public Works Department in Gardiner.
Construction is scheduled to begin Nov. 17 and should be close to completed within 60 days, he said.
Rachel Ohm — 612-2368
Twitter: @rachel_ohm
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