Caribou latest to benefit from USDA wasterwater upgrade funding

Photo / Maureen Milliken USDA Maine State Director Timothy Hobbs talks to the press in Brunswick in 2018. The federal agency has granted or loaned more than $30 million to municipal wastewater treatment upgrades across Maine this year.

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A $5.6 million upgrade to Caribou's wastewater treatment plant and collection system has gotten a boost with a grant and loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the latest in a push by the federal government to upgrade systems across the state.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has awarded the Caribou Utilities District a $1.4 million grant and a $4.2 million loan through the USDA's Office of Rural Development.

The project will help prevent overflows of untreated or partially treated wastewater during wet weather, according to a joint news release from U.S. Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Angus King, I-Maine.

The Caribou funding is in addition to $37.6 million earmarked for five other Maine wastewater systems by the USDA in November, another $5.1 million announced in June and $5.9 million in May. The USDA has awarded more than $190 million in the last five years to upgrade the state's aging water systems, the department said.

The Water and Waste Disposal grant program aims to help rural communities establish best practices that can save money, improve the environment and help manufacturers and businesses to establish or expand operations, the USDA said.

The improvements at Caribou’s wastewater treatment facility will include removing sludge, removing and replacing old aeration piping and equipment, replacing lagoon liners, improving hydraulic connectivity between lagoons and the chlorine contact tank, increasing the capacity of lagoons and replacing blowers and controls, according to the release.

“Maintaining and upgrading water infrastructure is vital to ensuring the economic and environmental health of communities,” said Collins and King.

The upgrades are a big part of the state's economy, USDA Rural Development State Director Timothy P. Hobbs said in November. "Businesses, community facilities and homeowners alike rely on properly working rural wastewater systems as a key part of the foundation of their community," he said.

The USDA last month announced it is investing $635 million in 122 projects in 42 states are part of a focus on infrastructure upgrades.

In later november, the USDA announced Presque Isle will get $15.6 million to upgrade its system, $9,630,000 as a grant and a $6,000,000 loan.

Other November grants and loans went to:

Lincoln Sanitary District, $5,052,000 ($2,526,000 loan, $2,526,000 grant);
Richmond Utilities District, $1,590,000 ($800,000 loan; $790,000 grant);
Anson and Madison Water District $3,500,000 ($2,000,000 loan, $1,500,000 grant);
Winterport Water District $7,750,000 ($1,500,000 loan, $6,250,000 grant); and
Eastport $4,137,000 ($2,070,000 loan, $2,067,000 grant).