KENNEBUNK — Just before Christmas, the Kennebunk, Kennebunkport and Wells Water District received a little dose of holiday cheer in the form of high praise from a respected industry professional.

In a letter sent out in December, engineer Ray Pepin of Siemens Water Technologies in Falmouth complimented the water district staff for being a “class act,” praising them for being accommodating and professional during a months-long pilot study that could one day change the way organic material is removed from local drinking water.

Siemens, which develops clean water technologies and processes for various industries, worked alongside the KKWWD during the autumn months in developing a proprietary process for water treatment that uses the mineral magnetite, an iron-based ore with natural magnetic properties. Norm Labbe, superintendent of the KKWWD, said that adding the magnetite to unfiltered water naturally attracts dirt particles and other organic matter, effectively making them heavier and causing them to sink.

The resulting residue can then be easily removed, along with the magnetite, which does not end up in drinking water. The magnetite, said Labbe, can then be removed from the residue itself and re-used; during the process, which was tested at the KKWWD for several months, 99 percent of the magnetite was recycled.

The testing occurred on water that was set aside for that purpose, and segregated from the normal drinking water that is provided to KKWWD customers in the Kennebunks, Wells, Ogunquit, part of Arundel, and coastal areas in Biddeford and Cape Neddick.

“Nobody has to worry that we’re doing an experimental process on the drinking water,” said Labbe.

Whether the KKWWD adapts the magnetite process remains to be seen; Labbe said that will depend on whether the extra steps involved are feasible within the operational budget.

But at the very least, the 49 employees at the KKWWD received reinforcement of their belief that they’re part of a strong team.

“I have been operating water treatment facilities for 43 years and have had the good fortune to work with many outstanding individuals during my career,” wrote Pepin in his letter, “but I have never seen a group of operations personnel who could collectively measure up to your folks at KKWWD. They are truly a class act from top to bottom.

“The entire crew bent over backwards to help us set up and immediately made us feel welcomed,” wrote Pepin. “From that first day, and until we demobilized … the KKWWD team could not have been   more helpful.”

The letter goes on to praise Filtration Plant Manager Bill Snyder, complimenting his hiring choices and ability to assemble a strong team.

“We often get positive letters from customers … but this is the first time we’ve gotten a letter from a worldly engineer who’s seen it all,” said Labbe. “We’ve always known we have high-caliber people. It’s more of a vocation rather than just a job.

“We’ve always had a high standard,” he said, “and to have that recognized by a peer is great.”

The KKWWD will be reviewing the findings of the pilot study to see if the magnetite process is feasible. If it is, it could see implementation in a year or two, Labbe said.

— Staff Writer Jeff Lagasse can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 319 or [email protected].