Department of Agriculture to help town rebuild two aging sewage pumping stations
 
Congresswoman Chellie Pingree announced today that the Boothbay Harbor Sewer District will be able to rebuild two aging sewage pumping stations in the heart of town, increasing the capacity and efficiency of the system.
 
“These kind of infrastructure improvements are critical to helping Maine’s small towns grow while protecting our natural resources,” said Pingree. “At the same time, they help keep Maine people at work.”
 
U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced funding for projects in 20 states to improve water quality and public sanitation. The projects are funded by the Stimulus Act.
 
Boothbay Harbor Sewer District is receiving a $250,000 grant from the Department of Agriculture as well as a $342,000 loan for much-needed and long-awaited repairs to its downtown sewer system.  The two pumping stations replaced in this project date to the 1960s, have been difficult to repair, and at times don’t have enough capacity to serve the busy waterfront.
 
“We’ve been band-aiding these for a long time,” said District Superintendent Chris Higgins. “Both of these stations are at major spots in the system.”
 
The two new stations, located on Commercial Street and Meadow Street, will have larger capacity and be more efficient to operate.
 
 The Stimulus Act was passed by Congress and signed by the President in 2009.