OAKLAND — Lawyers are now involved in the effort to get the town’s new $6 million sewer system working.

Town Manager Peter Nielsen told the Town Council on Wednesday night that he had sought legal counsel last week to bring together the project’s principal parties, namely engineering firm Woodard & Curran and contractor Pratt & Sons, to remedy the problem.

The sewer system was slated to be operational in February but air blockages have prevented water flow through the pipe.

Nielsen read a prepared statement to the council and said he didn’t have anything more to say about the matter.

“This is a frustrating situation, but one that can only end by getting the system operational as soon as possible,” Nielsen read.

The town manager reported that tests of the system over the winter showed a 1,700-foot section of pipe known as an inverted syphon was not working properly.

“The contractor who installed this portion of pipe informally offered to ‘do their part’ towards solving the problem for the town. Theirs’ was the only such offer,” Nielsen said.

“Because part of a solution will not suffice, I turned to legal counsel last week for help bringing parties together, informally at first, to see if agreement can be reached on both the nature of the remedy, and its implementation,” he said.

Mike Stein, project manager at Woodard & Curran, said he shared Nielsen’s frustration and that he looked forward to coming to a resolution.

“Woodard & Curran stands by its design,” Stein said.

A meeting may be held in Portland next week, Nielsen said, adding that an attorney representing the town would be there.

Construction on the sewer project began in 2009.

Because of the air blockages, the town continues to use the sewer treatment system that was built in the 1970s even though its license with the state to operate it expired Jan. 31.

The project is intended to redirect treated wastewater that is dumped into an impounded portion of Messalonskee Stream to Waterville’s collection plant.

About 60 percent of the $6 million project was funded by federal economic stimulus money.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development program provided a grant and a low-interest loan to Oakland.

Nielsen said resident sewer ratepayers will pay about $2.5 million for the project.

Beth Staples — 861-9252
[email protected]