The town’s aging wastewater treatment plant is scheduled for a $7.2 million upgrade, the project financed by a combination of loans from the State and a recently announced $3 million federal grant.
Renewal of the federal funding, anticipated in 2024 but canceled in early 2025, was secured “in no small part through the efforts of the Maine Congressional delegation,” according to Ken Holmes, outgoing chairman of the South Berwick Sewer District’s Board of Trustees, who announced restoration of the $3 million grant at the district’s annual meeting March 9.
The grant was funded by a Congressional Direct Spending appropriation, Holmes said. Often referred to as “earmarks,” CDS is part of federal appropriation legislation that allows U.S. Senators and Representatives to request federal assistance to help close a one-time funding gap for specific high-impact projects such as infrastructure, education or public safety that serve the public in their state or district.
The Sewer District first borrowed $527,000 in 2025 from the Maine State Revolving Loan Fund to install a new dewatering system that separates water from sludge, the highest priority wastewater project in a 10-year capital improvement plan developed in 2023 by Wright Pierce Engineering.
Once the water and sludge are separated, the water is pumped back into the plant, where it is treated before being released into the Salmon Falls River adjacent to the sewage facility on Liberty Street.
The district plans to borrow another $3.7 million from the Maine State Clean Water Revolving Loan Fund which, along with the federal grant, will allow upgrading of the influent pump station, headworks, and septage handling systems, said Holmes.
The district will have $3.5 million of the loan principal forgiven but must pay the rest, which is expected to result in raising the district’s debt by $250,000 per year for a 20-year bond, he said.
Michael Curry from Wright Pierce Engineering, in attendance at the meeting, said the final National Pollution Discharge Elimination System permit, issued by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection in June 2025, shows that the district meets the seasonal nitrogen discharge limits of 15 pounds per day.
Curry commended the district for joining the New Hampshire Municipal Adaptive Management Alliance to comply with “Condition K,” a component of the new NPDES permit. The alliance will establish a framework for regulating total nitrogen discharge by the more than 50 communities that discharge into the Great Bay and its tributaries.
Too much nitrogen and phosphorus in the water causes algae to grow faster than ecosystems can handle, according to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection. Significant increases in algae harm water quality, food resources and habitats, and decrease the oxygen that fish and other aquatic life need to survive.
In other other business at the district meeting moderated by Harland Goodwin, Holmes introduced Denis Messier, the new district administrator who replaces longtime administrator Tom Harmon, and thanked Harmon for his years of service.
He also expressed appreciation to office manager Tami Belanger as well as Scott Perry, treatment plant superintendent, and operators Michael Antonelli, Tim Brooks and Brandon Potvin.
Holmes, who did not seek re-election to the board after serving nine years, noted that board members were saddened by the death of Paul Hussey, Jr., a longtime board member who died in August.
Holmes acknowledged that upgrades to the district’s billing and accounting systems last year were accomplished “with significant pain” for some customers who experienced repeated billing errors, but he believes the issues have been resolved and apologized for the inconvenience.
The required quorum of 25 members elected Tom Delaney to a two-year term on the board of trustees and re-elected Kevin Emery to a three-year term. Emery was elected board chairman. Other members are Jim Flynn and Jim Smith.
No nominations were made for the vacancy created by the expiration of Holmes’ term. The board will continue to seek a new member.
