The Value of Water: 2011 Maine Water Utilities Association supplement

2, Monday-Tuesday | May 2-3, 2011, Maine Water Utilities Association

By Robin Kerr, Conservation CoordinatorMOUNT AGAMENTICUS

CONSERVATION REGION

As the land manager for the Mount Aga-menticus Conservation Region, I have alove/hate relationship with water. Waterfrom the region’s three hills drains to fillcritical vernal pools and wetland habitatessential to a plethora of plants and animals.The filtered water replenishes rural wellsand local reservoirs serving three areatowns. However, on steep slopes, water andgravity can result in severe erosion, whichaccounts for 90 percent of the labor-inten-sive trail remediation we do on an annualbasis as per our mission statement: “Protectthe region’s water quality and wildlife habi-tat while managing sustainable recreationalopportunities for the general public.”

Mount A is the high point of five water-sheds. A watershed is where all the waterunder, or drains off, an area goes into thesame place. John Wesley Powell, 19th centu-ry explorer and geographer, defined “water-shed” as: “...That area of land, a boundedhydrologic system, within which all livingthings are inextricably linked by their com-mon water course and where, as humanssettled, simple logic demanded that theybecome part of a community.”

A watershed is essentially a shared waterbody that serves as a drainage basin; rainand snowmelt drain downhill into thewatershed, which can be a river, lake, reser-voir, wetland, or ocean. The basin includesthe streams and rivers that convey the waterand the land surfaces serving those water-courses. From Mount A’s summit, you cansee the reservoirs that provide drinkingwater for York, Kittery, and Eliot. The waterin these reservoirs and area wells comesfrom the streams and watersheds aroundMount A, so environmental protection there

helps safeguard the water supply for over25,000 residences and businesses and500,000 annual visitors in our region.

Environmental protection of Mount Aalso benefits wildlife that relies on vernalpools — low spots that fill with rain andsnowmelt in the spring and usually dry upduring the summer. They are a unique wet-land habitat, critically important breedingplaces for specially adapted animals such as

the spotted salamander, blue-spotted sala-mander, wood frog, and fairy shrimp. Manyother creatures, like caddisflies, dragonflies,and the rare Blanding’s and spotted turtles,also rely on vernal pools for food and shelterat different times during their life cycles.

The fragile hydrology of this system isnegatively impacted by severe erosion. Steepslopes, rugged terrain, thin soils, and graniteoutcrops on Mount A, and a long history of

poor land-use practices, combine to createhigh erosion potential. Erosion damages thetrails, washing away the soil and leavingexposed bedrock, large loose rocks, boul-ders, roots, and steep-sided gullies. Theeroded soil causes problems off the trail, too,muddying vernal pools and natural reser-voirs. High nutrient concentrations in the

This MWUA supplement wasproduced and published by the

EEddiittoorr//LLaayyoouutt:: David M. FitzpatrickPPhhoottooss:: Gary Steves, BDN, et al.

CCoovveerr DDeessiiggnn:: Chris QuimbySSaalleess:: Linda Hayes

To participate in next year’s MWUAsupplement, contact Linda Hayes at

(207) 990-8136 [email protected].

To reach a wide audience with yourorganization’s message, run your ownSpecial Section. For information, con-

tact Mike Kearney at(207) 990-8212 or

[email protected].

PHOTO BY GARY STEVENS, YORK WATER DISTRICT

Welch’s Pond, owned by York Water District, feeds Chase’s Pond. Across Welch’s, we see Mount Agamenticus.

The value of water at Maine’s Mount Agamenticus

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If your water comes through a municipalwater system, you probably don’t thinkmuch about where it comes from. You mightnot even consider how easily you get thewater, or how invaluable it is to you. Yourwater is safe, clean, and reliable for drinking,and accessible at the turn of a tap. But didyou know that it costs an average family inMaine less than one dollar per day fordrinking water?

Considering all the things you use water for, what would you do without it...even just for one day? Think about all the things you wouldn’t be able to do!

Maine Water Utilities Association, Monday-Tuesday | May 2-3, 2011, 3

ShoweringDrinking Brushing Teeth

CleaningWater for Pets Washing Hands

LaundryIce Washing Dishes

Flushing

The Value of YourDrinking Water

Cooking Gardening


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By Gregory Cataldo,Vice PresidentWOODARD & CURRAN

The average person can live 40-plus dayswithout food, but only three to five withoutwater. Clean water is used for sanitationpurposes like cleaning and hand washing, inthe processing and manufacturing industryfor cleaning and producing the food that weeat, for fire protection, and for hundreds ofother daily activities. A reliable supply ofclean water is crucial to our economy andour way of life, but the infrastructure thatbrings us clean water is aging rapidly. Unlikefine wine, our water and transportationinfrastructure does not improve with age.

Earlier this year, an urban Maine waterdistrict responded to two major breaks inthe underground mains that transport thecity’s water. Many residents and businessesreported either low water flow or no water atall. Unfortunately, water-main breaks are acommon occurrence in Maine and through-out New England, in part due to our infra-structure’s deteriorating condition. Whilenot glamorous, providing and maintainingsafe, reliable water infrastructure is key topublic safety and health, economic growth,and sustainable development.

According to the Environmental Protec-tion Agency, there is an average of 700water-main breaks per day in the U.S. In thecountry’s biggest water systems, 30 percentof the pipes are 40-80 years old. In Maine’soldest communities, it is not uncommon tohave ground pipes over 100 years old, withsome dating to the Civil War. When a watermain breaks, bacteria or other contaminantscan enter the water supply, which is directlydistributed to residents and businesses. TheAmerican Society of Civil Engineers gavethe nation’s drinking water system a grade ofD- due to its poor condition. The state ofMaine received a slightly better grade of C.

In June 2008, the Bangor Daily Newsreported that “Maine’s economic develop-ment has been slowed because of an increas-ing backlog of drinking water projects.”Water projects valued at approximately $900million have been identified and are in needof funding over the next 20 years. Investingin Maine’s water infrastructure is necessaryto help spur and maintain economic growthacross the state.

As existing infrastructure continues toage without appropriate investment inmaintenance and replacement, we will seemore service interruption from water-mainbreaks and impaired economic-growthopportunities, fire-flow risks, as well aspotentially compromised water quality.Investing in maintenance and upgradeswould provide direct economic benefits,including jobs created to perform mainte-

nance and replacement projects. It wouldalso provide indirect benefits, such as pro-tecting Maine’s image as a great place to liveand do business because the state is willingto make investments in providing essentialinfrastructure and services. New businesses

in Maine will create jobs, magnifying thebenefits of the initial investment in ourwater infrastructure. Improving water infra-structure in the state of Maine, and thecountry as a whole, is an economic and pub-lic-health necessity.

The implications of our aging water infrastructure

BANGOR DAILY NEWS FILE PHOTOS

Upgrading and maintaining water infrastructure is vital and ongoing. Left: In June 1960, officials of the Camden-RocklandWater Company open a new 12-inch water main that would supply water from Rockland's reservoir to the north end of thecity and parts of Glen Cove. Above: In March 2008, Kathy Moriarty, general manager of the Bangor Water District, stands

near the Floods Pond pumping station in Otis. The BWD pumps about 5 million gallons of water daily. Drinking water is peri-odically tested for more than 200 contaminants and is treated at a separate facility before entering the water supply. With-

out ongoing improvements, innovations, and technologies like these, municipal water wouldn’t be possible.

2011 MWUA SCHOLARSHIPSAt the annual MWUA meeting in February2011, the organization presented three$1,000 scholarships. The scholarshipswent to three University of Maine stu-dents: SStteepphheenn SSiivviisskkii,, who interned withKennebec Water District; DDuussttiinnLLaaccoommbbee,, who interned with KennebecWater District; and DDaanniieell GGiibbssoonn,, whointerned with Bangor Water District.

MWUA staff presents Daniel Gibson with his scholarship. From left: MWUA recent pastpresident Kathy Moriarty, Bangor Water District; Gibson; Mary Jane Dillingham, Auburn

Water District, Lewiston Water Division; and Kirsten Ness, Portland Water District.


By Mark Dubois, Certified GeologistPOLAND SPRING WATER COMPANY

For many Maine people like me, water ispart of our state identity. From the snow weski on to the lakes we enjoy on hot summerdays to the rivers we fish in, water is every-where. As one of our state’s greatest naturalresources, it’s part of our everyday lives.Maine’s water heritage has made possiblePoland Spring’s long history in Maine, andwe’re committed to protecting this abun-dant and renewable natural resource.

Poland Spring was founded 165 years ago,when safe drinking water was not alwaysreadily available. Waterborne disease wasvery common, and spring water a welcomerelief. Not long after, many of today’s publicwater systems were started to improve thequality and delivery of drinking water.

Today, Maine enjoys abundant and cleanwater resources that enhance our quality oflife and support thousands of jobs. AtPoland Spring, we turn this rapidly renew-able natural resource into good jobs forMaine people. But the true value of what wedo goes beyond what’s put in bottles andshipped across the Northeast; it’s the peoplewe employ, the causes we support, and ourclose relationships with the communitieswhere we live and work.

As water-resource professionals, weunderstand the importance of managing thesprings we use in a sustainable way andensuring that the land and sources aroundthem are protected.

First and foremost, Poland Spring choos-es spring sources that can be managed overthe long term. Spring water productionrequires constant and sustained steward-ship. The nine Maine springs we utilize con-

tinue to flow, and aquifers receive water reg-ularly in the form of rain and snow. Thewater in each bottle of Poland Spring is partof that annual overflow. The spring sourceand the aquifer are protected because we usethis overflow in a managed, sustainable way.

Like public and private water utilities, weoperate under significant federal, state, andlocal regulation and oversight. For example,state permitting of spring-water withdrawalcommonly requires monitoring nearby sur-face water and natural habitats. This gives usdata to ensure that we are meeting our strin-gent permit requirements and that there isno harm to local wells and watersheds.

We share MWUA’s commitment to edu-cating about water-resource issues; only aninformed public will understand the valueof protecting our clean water. Poland Springdonates to water-education programs andsupports organizations like Ferry Beach

Ecology School and the Gulf of MaineResearch Institute, which work with youngMainers to teach them the value of preserv-ing Maine’s waterways and resources, ensur-ing the next generation of Mainers have theskills they need to protect the naturalresources that are so vital to Maine’s econo-my and to our Maine way of life.

For all the strides made since HiramRicker first tapped the water in PolandSpring, it will continue to be a challenge toprovide ever-cleaner drinking water to agrowing population. Everyone wants to seehealthy aquifers, clean lakes and abundantfish populations. We’re committed to ensur-ing the next generation of Mainers has thesame love and appreciation for water as wedo. We’re ready to help meet that challengeto protect our precious water resources, andto support MWUA’s mission to deliver cleansafe drinking water to Maine people.

The value of water: yesterday, today, and tomorrow

Like water districts throughout Maine, Poland Spring manages Maine’s abundant,renewable water resources for sustainability through careful monitoring and strict adherence to state and local regulations. Poland Spring has nothing to gain and everything to lose from overusing local groundwater.

All of our nearly 800 full-time and seasonal employees are committed to making sure that every one of our water sources will be here and healthy for generations to come.

Proud member of MWUA since 2000.

Managing Maine’s WaterResponsibly Since 1845

www.PolandSpringWorksforMaine.com

Poland Spring • Hollis • KingfieldPoland Spring • Hollis • KingfieldPoland Spring • Hollis • Kingfield

PPhhoottoo:: BBrreetttt WWeeiinnsstteeiinn


By Elissa Guerrette and Amanda RoyPORTLAND WATER DISTRICT

Have you ever been walking through thewoods and suddenly… SQUOOSH, youstepped right into a big pile of mud andleaves at the bottom of a hill? Yes, you are nowstanding in wet shoes, but you could also bestanding in the middle of a salamander nurs-ery! You may be standing in a vernal pool.

WWhhaatt iinn tthhee wwoorrlldd iiss aa vveerrnnaall ppooooll??A vernal pool is where salamanders, frogs,

and funny critters that swim on their sides,called fairy shrimp, go to lay their eggs.These pools are so special, even endangeredanimals like to go there! In a vernal pool,you can find yellow spotted salamanders,blue spotted salamanders, wood frogs, tur-tles, snakes, and many other curious crittersthat need water to live. These animals haveto be quick, though, because the pool is onlyopen for a short time. Vernal pools fill up in

the spring with water from melted snow andApril showers. Once summer comes, theydry right up! Don’t worry, though, becausethose baby frogs, little salamanders, turtles,and all their new friends grow up just intime to crawl into nearby dry land for theirfall and winter homes.

WWhhyy ddoo wwee nneeeedd vveerrnnaall ppoooollss??CCaann’’tt aallll tthhoossee aanniimmaallss jjuusstt llaayytthheeiirr eeggggss iinn ppoonnddss oorr llaakkeess??

Vernal pools are the forests’ food source!

It works like this: Small bugs eat the fallenleaves, frogs and salamanders eat the bugs,turtles and snakes eat the frogs, birds eat thesnakes, foxes eat the birds, eagles eat thefoxes… and so on! Without vernal pools, wewould have forests full of old leaves andmany animals would not find food to eat.Vernal pools help keep Maine’s forestshealthy.

Ponds and lakes do have many of the bestparts of a vernal pool (water, food, twigs tostick their eggs on so they don’t float away)

but they also have something that our vernalpool buddies don’t like: fish. You see, a fish’sfavorite snack is eggs. When they see a bigclump of salamander eggs they can’t helpthemselves but to eat them all! Well, our ver-nal pool friends don’t like to become snacks,so they must live in very special places wherefish can’t go. You guessed it, vernal pools.Since vernal pools usually lose their water inthe summer, fish can’t live there, makingvernal pools a safe place for the wiggliest,

Color theAmphibianLifecycle!

Wood frogs andspotted salamandersare amphibians thatgrow from egg to adultin Maine’s vernalpools.

Color each stage oftheir life cycles, thencut them out and see ifyou can put them backin order! When do thewood frog and spottedsalamander look themost alike? When dothey look the most dif-ferent?

WO

OD

FR

OG

SP

OT

TE

DSA

LA

MA

ND

ER

CCOOLLOORRCCOOLLOORR

CCOOLLOORRCCOOLLOORR Color the Vernal Pool!In the spring and early summer months, vernal pools are noisy, busy places! Which

species can you draw in your vernal pool? Can you find that animal in a vernal poolnear your house?

Continued on next page

Where thewood froggrows: thevery coolvernal pool


Water hasa mindof its own.

Tricky? Yes. Powerful? Very. Uncontrollable? Hardly.

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jiggliest, silliest, slimiest creatures in the for-est to raise their babies.

HHeerree aarree ttwwoo aanniimmaallss tthhaatt yyoouuccaann ffiinndd iinn vveerrnnaall ppoooollss::

WWoooodd FFrrooggss......• grow to be 3-6 inches long• have bodies that are tan to dark brown,

with distinctive dark mask-like markingsaround the eyes and white bellies

• have two ridges that run down the backand brown stripes on both the legs and back

• produce 300 to 1,500 eggs, each withbaby tadpole in the center

• lay many egg masses in one night, all

near each other• make a noise that can easily be mistaken

for a duck’s quack

SSppootttteedd SSaallaammaannddeerrss……• are generally 6-9 inches long• have bodies that are blue-ish black• have irregularly shaped yellow or light-

blue spots on their backs that run from headto tail

• lay one or more egg masses of 30 to 600eggs; egg masses can be clear or opaquewhite and are surrounded with a jelly-likeprotective layer; each egg contains ablack/brown or gold baby salamander

• can live to be 20 years old

MMaatteerriiaallss::Salamander stencil (cut out the one

below to use as a guide)SpoonBowlSelf-seal sandwich bagsCookie sheetScissorsWax paper cut into squares large

enough to cover stencil

FFoorr eeaacchh ddiiffffeerreenntt ccoolloorr ssaallaammaannddeerryyoouu’’llll nneeeedd::

1 1/2c. Apple juice1 3 oz. pkg. Jell-o (a mixture of purple

and red looks the most realistic)1 envelope unflavored gelatin5 ice cubes

Yellow or blue M&Ms or sprinkles

DDiirreeccttiioonnss:: 1. Heat half the apple juice in a small pan. 2. Add flavored gelatin and stir until dis-

solved. 3. Pour remaining juice in a bowl, sprinkle

with unflavored gelatin, and stir.4. Pour cool mixture over hot and add ice

cubes. Stir until most of the ice is melt-ed.

5. Refrigerate about 20 minutes until mix-ture is the texture of pudding.

6. Pour 1/2 of mixture into sandwich bags.Seal bag, leaving corner of bag open.

7. Cover salamander stencil with waxedpaper square and slowly squeeze Jell-ofrom the bag to fill in the salamander.

8. Decorate with yellow spots and removefrom stencil. Repeat.

9. Chill 2 hours and enjoy some jigglyJELL-O-manders!

Continued from previous page

Make a JELL-O-mander!

Cut out this salamanderstencil and place it under-neath your wax-papersquares. If you want BIGJELL-O-manders, have anadult photocopy it andmake it larger!

By Andy Tolman, Assistant DirectorMAINE CDC DRINKING WATER PROGRAM

We take it for granted that when we turnon the tap, our water will taste good and besafe and healthful. The Federal Safe Drink-ing Water Act, implemented by the MaineDrinking Water Program and nearly 2,000public water systems, ensures that our confi-dence in drinking-water safety is well-founded.

Public water systems range from largemunicipal systems, like Portland and Ban-gor Water Districts, to businesses with theirown wells. However a business gets its water,regulations provide a foundation for the safelocation, construction, and management ofdrinking water. The DWP helps businesseslocate safe and protected wells away frompotential contaminants, and provides forregular testing to assure that their water issafe to drink.

DWP staff visits a public water systemevery three to five years to review its opera-

tions and provide feed-back on improvementopportunities. DWP alsoreviews water-qualitytesting to help the sys-tem attain standardsfor safe drinking water.The DWP also pro-vides small grants,improvement loans,and technical assis-tance to help solved r i n k i n g - w a t e rproblems. TheDWP works withMaine RuralWater Associa-tion, funding‘circuit riders’who are avail-able to help trou-bleshoot systemproblems.

The DWP works with theMRWA, MWUA, Water Operators

Board, andothers to edu-

cate and trainfor system oper-

ations and main-tenance. Larger

water systemsemploy licensed

operators to main-tain their treatment

and distribution sys-tems. The DWP and

Water Operators Boardprovide examination,

licensing, and perform-ance review to maintain

high-quality drinkingwater. Most small business

systems are straightforwardenough that the owner can

perform basic maintenanceand sampling, with assistance

from the DWP and our partners.We also work with towns to

help them plan for safe drinking

water. Since most land-use decisions aremade at the town level, and because land-use choices determine whether we’re able toprovide safe drinking water, this outreach isan important service. Careful location andmanagement of waste disposal, petroleumstorage, and industrial operations help pro-tect aquifers so they can be used for watersupply. Well-planned and -managed landuse in drinking-water watersheds helps lakesstay clean and clear, and minimizes watercost for municipal customers.

We work with many partners, includingMaine Nonpoint Education for MunicipalOfficials, to help towns understand howtheir land-use decisions influence the waterwe drink. We also work with water systems,towns, and county and state emergency-management staff to help them prepare forand respond to unexpected events. Goodplanning helps water systems cope withextreme weather, vandalism, and other inci-dents that might otherwise make it difficultor impossible for them to provide safedrinking water.

The business benefits from public water regulation



Boil-water orders are used to keep people from getting sick from bacteriaand other germs in their drinking water. Usually it’s due to flooding, bro-ken water lines, power failures, water treatment failures, or pumping dif-ficulties. During a boil-water order, people should boil their tap waterbefore using it for drinking and other uses like cooking, brushing teeth,and making coffee. Public water systems (such as water districts,mobile-home parks, nursing homes, schools, restaurants, and motels)on boil-water orders must notify their consumers when an order hasbeen issued and take steps to correct the water problem.

Here’s what you should do if your water supply is on a boil-water order.

11.. BBooiill wwaatteerr ffoorr oonnee mmiinnuuttee aatt aa rroolllliinngg bbooiill ffoorr::• all drinking water• water used to make beverages such as tea, coffee, and

juice• water from the refrigerator dispenser• brushing your teeth• your pet’s water bowl• making ice cubes or preparing food• rinsing foods• other consumption purposes

22.. AA ddiissiinnffeeccttiioonn ““rriinnssee”” ccaann bbee ccrreeaatteedd ttoo rriinnssee ddiisshheess aanndd hhaannddss..Add one teaspoon of unscented chlorine bleach to one gallon of

water. Washed dishes should be rinsed, because dishwasher temperatures varyand it is difficult to determine if a sufficient temperature is reached to killbacteria.

33.. SSttaayy IInnffoorrmmeedd..Public Water Systems will take steps to correct the water problem and will

notify consumers when the Boil Water Order has been lifted. A Boil WaterOrder will be lifted once water tests show the water is safe to drink. If you are

in doubt, or have questions, contact your Public Water Supplier.How do you prepare your family for water emergencies that require a

water order? Simple…• Have plenty of bottled water on hand for emergencies.

• Stock up on disposable dishes, silverware, paper towels.• Purchase hand sanitizer.• Have an extra container of unscented bleach handy.

OOtthheerr WWaatteerr OOrrddeerrss““DDoo NNoott DDrriinnkk”” OOrrddeerr:: A “do not drink” order is used in cases of

chemical or other severe contamination. The water can be used butnot for consumption. Do not drink or consume water in any formuntil you have been notified that the Do Not Drink Order has beencancelled.““DDoo NNoott UUssee”” OOrrddeerr.. A “do not use” order may indicate serious

chemical contamination, and you should not use water for any reasonuntil the order is lifted and your system has been flushed.

What you should know about boil-water orders


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By David M. FitzpatrickBANGOR DAILY NEWS

You turn on the tap, and thewater comes out. It’s that easy,right? Actually, it’s far more com-plex than that. Here’s an overviewof what happens to water on theway to your house.

IInnffrraassttrruuccttuurreeFirst, to have any sort of water

infrastructure, many municipali-ties rely on the Maine MunicipalBond Bank (see MMBB’s ad onpage 8), which has provided low-cost capital funds to Maine munic-ipalities, school systems, water andsewer districts, and other entitiessince its creation in 1972.

The governor appoints a boardof commissioners to administerthe MMBB, which, through itshighly rated tax-exempt bonds,provides cost-effective financingprograms. Water-oriented pro-grams include the General BondResolution Program; the CleanWater SRF Program, created withthe Clean Water Act of 1972, andin cooperation with the MaineDepartment of EnvironmentalProtection; and the DrinkingWater SRF Program, created withthe Drinking Water Act of 1996and also in cooperation with theMaine DEP. Without the MMBB,many municipalities could notafford improvements to theirwater-based infrastructures.

FFiillttrraattiioonnMost municipal water comes

from natural sources, such as lakes,

mountain runoffs, or other water-sheds. They pump the water intostations, filter and clean it, and inMaine perhaps no company hasbeen more at the forefront thanCDM (see CDM’s ad on page 12).Formed in 1947 when one of itsco-founders left the MassachusettsInstitute of Technology, it’s now acompany with global reach. Butsince it first served clients in Mainein the 1950s with water-filtrationsystems, it has grown dramaticallyand branched out into many otherareas. But some of those Maineclients are still clients today, andCDM offers a broad range of serv-ices to the water industry, includ-

ing water and wastewater. And itstill provides filtration equipmentto Maine municipalities today.That’s just one example of thewide range of water-based servicesCDM provides.

SSttoorraaggeeAfter filtering, water is stored in

tanks. Tanks might sound easyenough; you build them and fillthem. But maintaining themrequires ongoing work. Tanksmust be free of contaminants, andissues of biological problems mustbe dealt with. Utility Service is thelargest provider of full-servicetank-management programs in

the nation.Utility Service (see US’s ad on

page 9) has representatives acrossthe U.S., with a strong showing inthe Northeast. It covers most ofthe lower 48 with 40 representa-tives. Based in Perry, Ga., the com-pany was formed in 1963, and in1985 introduced its full-servicetank-maintenance program,through which US can assume allrisk and responsibility — very dif-ferent from typical maintenanceplans, which involves shared risk.

US uses proven programs anddevelops innovative products andservices for potable-water-qualitymanagement.

PPiippeessOnce the water leaves the tanks,

it travels through pipes to yourhome or business. Where do theycome from? From suppliers likeE.J. Prescott (see EJP’s ad on page7), which has been in the businesssince it began tapping water mainsout of Gardiner in 1955 — the firstsuch waterworks distributor northof Massachusetts.

Today, EJP offers a huge array ofwater-related services that helpskeep Maine’s municipal waterflowing. Coring, drilling, tapping,

BANGOR DAILY NEWS FILE PHOTOS

Underground pipes break all the time across Maine, and must be quickly repaired to ensure customers have the water they need foreveryday living. People don’t often think about where their water comes from or how much work goes into making it happen. Above

left: In August 2006, Lincoln Water District workers Jeffrey Day (left), Byron Delano (center) and David Emery prepare a replacementpipe for fitting in the ground off Route 2 where a water main break deprived many district customers of clean water Tuesday. Above

right: In April 2009, Ellsworth Water Department workers repair a broken water main at the corner of Main and State streets in down-town Ellsworth on Thursday morning. Traffic was being re-routed through and around downtown Ellsworth while the intersection was

closed. City officials issued a boil-water order for some downtown water customers.

There’s more to municipal water than you might expect

See MUNICIPAL, Page 12

Girl Scouts across Maine are discovering the “WOW” factor— with help from water and wastewater facilities. WOW standsfor the Wonders of Water, a Girl Scout Journey aimed at the wiseuse of water resources.

Girl Scouts of Maine has partnered with Maine water andwastewater office staffers to match troops with utility personnelacross the state so they can explore where water comes from andwhere it goes, as well as potential careers within the utility fields.

More than a dozen water and wastewater plants — from Cari-bou and Madawaska to Lisbon and Brunswick — are offeringgirls facilities tours and the chance to interact with their staffs.For example, at a troop meeting held at the Belfast Water Dis-trict, the staff will offer some of the utility’s history as well asinformation on current operations. “It’s important for girls toknow that office work often involves math and science,” saidCindy Clements, administrative assistant for the utility.

Girls touring the Winterport Water District will discover thatMeg Muller not only runs the business office but is also a ClassII drinking water operator who performs daily lab analyses forthe drinking water and wastewater operations.

In some cases following their tour, the girls will develop relat-ed service projects for the utilities, such as posters and brochuresabout water use and protection of water resources.

For today’s girls, reversing environmental threats and improv-ing quality of life will be the work of their generation. If you’re aGirl Scout, you start where you live. Through innovative pro-grams, Girl Scouts of Maine is helping girls discover environ-mental sciences and connect with conservationists, community leaders, and each other tomake the world a better place.

Girl Scouts of Maine provides services and support to over 16,000 girls and adultsstatewide. For more information on Girl Scout programs or to volunteer, visitwww.GirlScoutsOfMaine.org.


Girl Scouts discover ‘WOW’ factor: Wonders of Water

PHOTOS BY GARY STEVENS, YORK WATER DISTRICT

Above: Girl Scouts on a watershed tour. Right: Girl Scoutsattending Camp Pondicherry in Bridgton enjoy a spin

around the lake. Below: Girl Scouts from Troop 3067 par-ticipating in beach-cleanup activities.


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Cambridge, MA • Manchester, NH • North Yarmouth, ME • Providence, RI • Wethers�eld, CT

CDM is proud to support the

Maine Water Utilities Association and

their e�orts to promote exceptional

drinking water for the citizens of Maine.

soil are carried into the watershed, contaminating drinking water.Sediment deposited in vernal pools can smother frog and sala-mander eggs, killing them.

The Mount Agamenticus Conservation Crew and many dedi-cated volunteers work year-round to improve and maintain trailconditions. Their work includes creating water bars, drainages,and dirt dips in an effort to keep water off the trails. These tech-niques help minimize erosion effects. You can help us protecthabitat and water quality by staying on marked trails, respectingtrail-use designations, walking bikes through wet areas, and stay-ing off the trails during muddy seasons or when they’re wet.

The natural dynamic that exists at Mount Agamenticus can beseen in watersheds throughout Maine. All water quality begins atthe headwaters, and natural and manmade forces can affect it.Recognition of these forces, and ways that we can minimize theirimpact, will go a long way to a sustainable and healthy water sup-ply. After all, we all live downstream.

The Mount Agamenticus Conservation Region contains 10,000acres of conservation land set amidst the largest expanse ofcoastal forest between Acadia and New Jersey. State, local, andnon-profit landowners are working together to protect this land andto balance wildlife and water quality along with human activity. Formore information, visit www.agamenticus.org.

fabricating, leak detection and audits, manhole vacuumtesting, meter and backflow services, sewer line air test-ing, trenchless technology — and that’s just some ofwhat the company does. That’s quite an array of thingsthat most urban Mainers probably don’t consider whenthey turn on their faucets.

EJP has spent most of its history expanding through-out New England, often acquiring related companies.The company’s goal: to continue providing the industry’sfinest water, sewer, drain, and gas products, backed by itsexceptional level of service.

RReeppaaiirrAnd fixing pipes doesn’t have to mean digging every-

thing up. Ted Berry Trenchless Technologies of Livermore(see Berry’s ad on page 9) and Enterprise Trenchless Tech-nologies of Lisbon Falls (see ETT’s ad on page 8) offer theability to insert liners within old pipes to fix them fromthe inside — without putting shovel to the earth. In astate with ageing pipe infrastructure, this can be a cost-effective solution for repairing cracked, broken, or worn-out pipes, including joints. Consider the labor and timeinvolved in digging up pipes, and the money municipali-ties can save using a neat, high-tech method like this. The

two companies also provide a wide array of related serv-ices, including digging and installing new pipes.

NNeettwwoorrkkiinngg && EEdduuccaattiioonnThat’s the basics of how municipal water gets to your

house, but it takes a pair of organizations to bring it alltogether. One is the Maine Water Utilities Association,which connects water and sewer providers with eachother, but the scope of those services clearly goes beyondour own state. For that, there’s the New England WaterWorks Association (see NEWWA’s ad on page 3, a Mass-achusetts not-for-profit in operation since 1882.

NEWWA is the leading authority on education, train-ing opportunities, and public outreach to protect andimprove drinking water and water utility operations,with a mission to promote public health, safety, quality oflife, and environmental stewardship through its pro-grams and activities. It seeks to increase public awarenessand confidence in tap water.

Today, its 2,900 members include water-utility man-agers, operators, consulting engineers, manufacturers’representatives, suppliers, and educators, as well as inter-ested citizens.

For Maine water utilities, NEWWA represents a vitalconnection to the knowledge, experience, and educationof its 2,900 members — particularly in a field that isalways changing, and far more complex than many of usmight think.

AgamenticusContinued from Page 2

MunicipalContinued from Page 10

Documents

The Value of Water: 2011 Maine Water Utilities Association supplement