Construction to replace the aging water mains will begin the week of May 28 and continue throughout the summer, according to Gary Leach, president of Leach Engineers of Lyndonville, Vt.

Leach said Friday that the project is being funded by a grant of $531,500, a loan of $1,653,500 and $75,000 in district funds.

About 20,000 feet of 4- to 6-inch water lines will be replaced with 8- to 12-inch diameter pipe on Main and Lower Main streets, Zion's Hill, Dustin Avenue, Abbott Hill, Free Street from Main Street to Route 7 south, Route 7 to Mechanic Street, and Mechanic, Lincoln, Forest, Center, Winter, Summer and Liberty streets. In addition, a short piece will be installed to connect water mains on Prospect, Church and Acadia streets.

The contractor, Peasley and O'Halloran of Ellsworth, will begin work first on Church Street, according to Leach. He said most of the work will be done through November and whatever is not completed will be done next spring.

"All of this is to increase the flow of water," Leach said. The town already has a modern reservoir and a slow sand filtration system that was installed in 1994 to treat the water from Lake Wassookeag, he noted.

Leach said the new water lines will be placed beneath the sidewalk on Free Street but will be in the road on Main Street, so traffic will be interrupted.

The new project is expected to increase rates slightly for the district's approximately 900 customers, Leach said. "It will increase the water rates somewhat, but probably not until the end of the year," he said.
"This content originally appeared as a copyrighted article in the Monday, May 21, 2001 edition of the Bangor Daily NEWS and is used here with permission."