DEP commissioner tours Aroostook County

Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Joseph Cyr
DEP VISIT — Tim Peters, left, plant manager for Houlton Water Company’s wastewater treatment facility, explains the process for treating the wastewater to Pattie Aho, acting commissioner for the Maine’s Department of Environmental Protection during a tour of the plant Thursday. Aho visited other sites in Aroostook County during the visit.
By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
    HOULTON — Getting a feel for how Houlton keeps its waste water facility running in tip-top condition was but one of many focus points for Pattie Aho, acting commissioner of the state’s Department of Environmental Protection, during her recent visit to Aroostook County.
    Aho toured the Houlton Water Company’s wastewater treatment facility Aug. 11 and also made a stop at the Smith & Wesson factory in Houlton’s Industrial Park as part of a two-day tour of Aroostook County. Her staff also visited the town of Washburn to review a revitalization project at a former McCain plant and toured the site of a major gasoline spill in Wallagrass.
    “This tour of Aroostook County was the only way that I can ensure we [the state of Maine] are providing the best customer service,” Aho said. “It’s a chance for me and the Department of Environmental Protection, to do our work better.”
    Aho said she also wanted to see first-hand how policies, rules and regulations made in Augusta are working for communities from Aroostook to York counties.
    She lauded the efforts of the Houlton Water Company in keeping its treatment facility in tip-top condition.
    Houlton’s waste water treatment facility is a model for the rest of the state,” Aho said. “I wanted to learn from the people who run a waste water treatment plant better than most others in the state.”
    “This particular facility was one of the first ones built with the Clean Water Act monies from the 1970s,” added Nick Archer, regional director for DEP based in Presque Isle. “A number of those facilities that were built with that original money are under reconstruction now. The way that the Houlton Water Company has taken such good care of this facility is amazing and has saved the Houlton community millions of dollars.”
    Archer added that by looking at the way HWC has maintained its facility, it should be around for many more years to come.