U.S. Congresswoman Chellie Pingree and EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan listen as Saco Water Resource Recovery Director Howard Carter makes a point during a tour of the facility on Monday. City voters in November approved a bond to rebuild the facility. Pingree and Regan were on hand to learn about the project and the impact of climate change on the facility. Tammy Wells Photo
SACO — Situated on a wedge of land between the Saco River and a residential district, the aging Saco Water Resource Recovery Facility is susceptible to hydraulic back-ups, has a decreasing ability to support current community needs, has a poor ability to meet anticipated regulatory requirements, city officials say, and is susceptible to sea level rise brought on by climate change.
In November, Saco voters approved a bond of up to $50 million to rectify the problem — essentially a complete rebuild, including site work to elevate the Front Street facility; construction and installation of new wastewater treatment processes; expansion of the overall wastewater treatment capacity; reclamation of green space for community use; and other site improvements.
On Monday, Democratic U.S. Congresswoman Chellie Pingree and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael S. Regan toured the facility and spoke to how the project could benefit from funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed by Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden on Nov. 15.
U.S. Congresswoman Chellie Pingree chats with Saco Water Resource Recovery Director Howard Carter and EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan inside the plant on Monday during a tour of the facility. Tammy Wells Photo
Maine is poised to receive $69 million in the first of five annual allotments under the $50 billion program, Pingree and Regan said.
Howard Carter, director of the Saco Water Resource Recovery department, said the Saco project is expected to cost about $54 million.
“It is the largest public works effort undertaken by the city of Saco,” said Carter. He said an infusion of federal funds is critical to the project.
Pingree said the Saco situation is a reflection of work that needs to be done in communities all over Maine.
By 2050, she said, Mane is expected to see a 1-to-2-foot rise in sea levels, and even more by 2100.
“Saco is already taking action and voters have already put money aside,” said Pingree, adding however there’s “no way” a city of 20,000 can do such a project without federal help.
“I am excited to work with Congresswoman Pingree and other local leaders in and around Saco to ensure these dollars get to the places that need it most, so that together we can build a better America,” said Regan.
The EPA administrator said he was familiar with some of the challenges Saco is experiencing — in his former position he was secretary of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality.
“Together we can make the case for who needs these resources most,” Regan said of the funds included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and noted there are additional, existing programs as well. “This is an opportunity to protect public health.”
Carter said the Saco River is enjoying a resurgence, and that clean water is crucial, not only to residents but to fishermen, clammers and holiday makers who contribute heavily to the summer tourist economy of the area. He noted that business development cannot happen without the infrastructure to support it, including the Water Resource Recovery Facility.
Much of Saco’s residential, business, and commercial entities rely on sewer services, Carter said. The facility serves more than 12,000 residents and more than 375 business, industrial, school, and utility users.
A summary of a report by the department issued in May notes that although Saco’s existing facility can seasonally remove nitrogen, the site does not have the space nor the updated treatment processes to meet more stringent discharge requirements.
The facility, built in 1969, is permitted to treat 4.2 million gallons a day. In a conversation prior to Saco’s November bond vote, Carter said during wet weather events, the facility can experience peak hourly flows of up to 13.4 million gallons per day. High tide conditions can cause the facility to hydraulically back up, not allowing treated effluent to outlet properly.
“Today, we saw first-hand how climate change is already impacting Maine and threatening the vital services our societies rely on to live safe and healthy lives,” said Pingree. “The Saco Water Resource Recovery Department has witnessed a rising sea level that worsens by the year and causes regular flooding. But the Saco facility is taking action to ensure it is resilient to the effects of sea level rise, flooding, and climate change.”
Pingree is chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior and the Environment, which oversees funding for the EPA.
“I’m proud to fight for funding that helps us confront the climate crisis, and I thank Administrator Regan for coming to Maine to see our efforts in action and the real-world potential of the historic Infrastructure Law,” she said in a news release.
Carter said the design of the new facility is about 30 percent complete. He said he expects construction to take about three years, and is looking at a 2026 completion date. He noted the existing facility must be kept open and operating during construction.
The municipal bond passed by voters specifies “up to” $50 million, Mayor William Doyle said, and the city is looking to receive financial assistance from federal and/or state sources.
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