LINCOLNVILLE — The federal government is giving the Lincolnville Sewer District a Water and Waste Disposal direct loan of $1.6 million, and a grant of $1 million to help construct a new $3.1 million wastewater collection system and treatment facility at the Beach. 

Last February, the town agreed to apply for a Community Development Block Grant with the Maine Office of Economic and Community Development to help complete the district’s project funding, but that was turned down, according to Lincolnville Town Administrator David Kinney.

The Maine agency said the field was competitive this year, and urged the town to reapply next winter.

The sewer district has already received a $250,000 grant from the federal Northern Border Regional Commission. Grant and low interest financing is tied to the setting of user rates; that is, the more grant and low interest financing the more reasonable the customer user rate.

The Beach sewer system is 25 years old and in need of upgrading.  The privately-run Lincolnville Sewer District currently serves two restaurants, stores and apartments across the street from Lincolnville Beach. It was built in 1991, and the infrastructure is approaching the point of replacement, as is the treatment equipment inside the plant.

The district hopes to build a new system, and expand capabilities, for a project cost of $3,069,800. 

The new system, which is targeted for late fall 2016 construction and October 2017 operation, would serve those properties from Shag Rock Point Road through the Beach area, and then north on Route 1 to Lively Lane.

“Under the proposal the present plant will be demolished and replaced on site with a new surface control building and the installation of an underground packaged treatment facility designed to treat the added flows from new customers,” the district said, in written project description. “Linked to the new sewer plant will be the installation of pressured sewer laterals in the corridor road right-of-way to collect the sewage from disconnected overboard discharge (OBDs) units discharging to the ocean, malfunctioning septic system and cesspools for transporting to the new facility where the wastewater will be centrally treated and the effluent discharged to the harbor in the existing outfall pipe. In order to keep the project costs under control, the existing pump stations, force main and outfall pipe will be reused.”

“If constructed the new wastewater treatment facility will provide environmental benefits to the community and allow for expanded economic activity in the Beach Area and along the shore,” the district said. 

The USDA has invested more than $231 million in approximately 70 water and wastewater facilities in Maine since 2008.

USDA Rural Development has offices in Presque Isle, Bangor, Lewiston, and Scarborough, as well as a State Office, in Bangor. There are 54 employees working to deliver the agency's Housing, Business, and Community Programs, which are designed to improve the economic stability of rural communities, businesses, residents, and farmers, and improve the quality of life in rural Maine. Further information on rural programs is available at a local USDA Rural Development office or by visiting USDA Rural Development's web site at http://www.rd.usda.gov/me.

Lincolnville Sewer District aims to overhaul and expand beach system, seeks grant

Reach Editorial Director Lynda Clancy at lyndaclancy@penbaypilot.com; 207-706-6657