Searsport Water District recently received the 2019 Utility of the Year Award from the New England Water Works Association (NEWWA), the region’s largest and oldest nonprofit organization of water works professionals.

This award recognizes utilities which have made significant improvements to the water system infrastructure, customer service, staff training, and/or operations to further protect public health of the customers they serve. Searsport Water District received this award in the small-sized utility category—the utility serves approximately 1,157 customers.

Searsport Water District is recognized for taking steps toward making infrastructure upgrades as well as achieving greater energy efficiency. In recent years, Searsport Water District committed to making major distribution system improvements along Route 1A and Route 1 in Stockton Springs through Searsport to the Belfast/Searsport town line. These improvements provide an interconnection to the Belfast Water District system, which will provide the capability of receiving and sending water to either system should either have an emergency need for water.

Searsport Water District continues the process of replacing the older water meters throughout the system with a new Automatic Meter Reading system, which enhances customer service and provides cost savings. 

The award was presented to Superintendent Herbert Kronholm, staff, and trustees of Searsport Water District on September 24, during the 138th NEWWA Annual Conference in Rockport, Maine.

The New England Water Works Association is a nonprofit, independent, member-driven organization dedicated to serving the region’s water works professionals and the public interest. It is the oldest and most active regional water works association in the United States. For more than a century, NEWWA has worked to improve and sustain public water supplies, protect public health and safety, and advance the water supply profession. Visit us at newwa.org.