Staff Writer
WASHBURN — A system nearing 20 years of service to water customers in Washburn will soon be getting an upgrade.
“The pump station on Bridge Street — also called No. 2 — is 20 years old. It’s almost at the end of its life cycle. We’ll be upgrading it beginning this week, with work expected to be completed by fall,” said Matt Palmer, director of the Washburn Water & Sewer District.
Currently located underground, Palmer said the new system will be brought above ground.
“It will get it away from confined spaces, making it easier to work on when necessary,” he said.
Palmer said town officials applied last year for funding, with approval obtained earlier this year.
“We applied last year to the Municipal Bond Bank. We were approved for $328,000, with $100,800 forgiven. That left a balance of $227,200 for the town to come up with,” he said.
Those funds will come from the WWSD budget, but Palmer said that will happen at no added expense to taxpayers.
“The District is user-based. We get revenue from the users. We’d paid off various loans, so there will be no added expense to users. There will be no rate increase,” said Palmer.
Olver Associates Inc., of Winterport, is the engineering and design firm that’s been hired for the job. Work is expected to get under way around July 16 and be completed by Sept. 4.
For more information, call 455-1042 or 554-7138.
