1 of 19

�Maine’s Water Industry:��Legislative Update 2025��Presenter Name

Presented by: Maine Water Utilities Association

Maine Water Environment Association

2 of 19

Who are we?

Emily Cole Prescott: Maine Water Environment Association, Past President.

17 year municipal government veteran, currently Saco’s Town Planner.

Craig Douglas PE: AWWA Director, Brunswick & Topsham Water District

27 years in the drinking water profession, currently BTWD’s�General Manager

3 of 19

Who are we?

MWUA: The front end of the pipe.

Established 100 years ago, a group of water superintendents recognized the need to meet on a regular basis, share information and ideas and lend mutual support. Today, MWUA works closely with utility professionals, regulators, and policymakers to address critical water challenges while promoting best practices in the field.

MeWEA: The back end of the pipe.

An all volunteer association of over 1,000 members including municipal and industrial wastewater and stormwater system operators, students, and regulatory officials, our mission is to protect Maine’s water bodies through investment in infrastructure, continued training, innovation, and education, and advocating for sustainable, forward-looking policies. Our job is to clean Maine’s waste waters and recycle them back into the environment.

4 of 19

MWUA: 2024 Snapshot

Environmentalists. Conservationists. Passionate Caretakers. Water Purveyors.

Violette Brook Reservoir

5 of 19

MWUA: 2024 Snapshot

Van Buren & Cyr Plantation

6 of 19

MWUA: 2024 Snapshot

7 of 19

MWUA: 2024 Snapshot

Kittery & York

8 of 19

MWUA: 2024 Snapshot

9 of 19

MWUA: 2024 Snapshot

Chase’s Pond

Kittery & York Round-the-Mountain Trail

Kittery & York Rockport & Hope

10 of 19

MWUA: 2024 Snapshot

Floods Pond, Bangor

Carleton Pond

Augusta

Floods Pond in Bangor is a critical site for conservation efforts, particularly for the rare Arctic Charr. The pond is managed by the Bangor Water District and is closed to recreational activities like fishing and boating to ensure minimal human impact. The efforts taken by the water district make the pond a vital “outdoor laboratory” for studying and protecting one of Maine’s most unique fish species.

The Augusta Water District acquired over 700 acres around Carleton Pond for watershed protection in the early 1900s. The pond is a designated game preserve and supports diverse witldife, including ithe-tailed deer, beavers, foxes and endangered black terns. Conservation efforts include monitoring the black tern population and nesting habitats.

Through collaboration, the Greater Augusta Utility District and Kennebec Land Trust, help maintain water quality and ecological health.

11 of 19

MeWEA: 2024 Snapshot

Tech-driven Innovators. Collaborative Problem Solvers. Stewards of Clean Water. Resource Managers.

Maine’s PFAS legislation sets highest national
standard, but it remains an unfunded mandate.
Burden on WW industry to problem solve and collaborate.

Increased biosolid disposal costs
Ongoing capacity issues at facilities and Juniper Ridge landfill

2024 Milestones + Noteworthy Mentions

Brown + Caldwell Report
Innovation, Collaboration, New Technology

PWD
Anson-Madison

12 of 19

MeWEA: 2024 Snapshot

Tech-driven Innovators. Collaborative Problem Solvers. Stewards of Clean Water. Resource Managers.

Climate Change

WW facilities face infrastructure threats

Low lying locations beside water
6 face permanent flooding risks

Not enough infrastructure funding
Saco / Bath / York / Ogunquit recently successful relocated due to flooding

2023 / 2024 Storms

Untreated stormwater runoff doubled due to overwhelming water volume + outdated / undersized infrastructure
Neglecting stormwater infrastructure puts drinking water, wastewater, and other vital facilities at risk of flooding

13 of 19

MWUA:

Key Legislative Issues

Water Rights

Maine’s 132nd Legislature must continue its existing support for the right of public water supplies to access, protect and utilize their sources

Aging Infrastructure

Maine water systems continue to work hard to replace aging infrastructure while balancing rate increases for rate payers

PFAS

Water systems are the unwitting recipients of PFAS contamination
Some systems in Maine are facing 100s of millions of dollars in losses, including significant ongoing maintenance costs

14 of 19

MeWEA:

Key Legislative Issues

Juniper Ridge Expansion - not ideal, but imperative

MDEP Committee recommended, now its being challenged

LD 25: This bill would facilitate $50 million in bond funds for wastewater treatment facility planning and construction of infrastructure.

If approved by 132nd Legislature, it would be placed on November 2025 ballot.

LD 297: Extension to avoid capacity crisis at Juniper Ridge
LD 646: Resolve, Establishing the Commission to Study Unregulated Storm Water Pollution

15 of 19

Financial Snapshot

2024: $392M in requests, only 14% funded

2025: $56M available for WW projects (less funding than 2024)

16 of 19

Financial Snapshot

Fully Funded State Revolving Fund (SRF)

Maine facilities are 40-60 years old
Funding requests to MDEP increase annually but most go unfunded.
Stormwater-specific funds in 2024 totalled $200K with more than $275M in identified needs.

17 of 19

MeWEA: Long-Term Needs

Adequate funding to execute state and federal PFAS mandates

Investment in new, pilot technology to remove or destroy PFAS from wastewaters
Construction of a regional facility
Development of short, medium and long term waste management plan in Maine

Collaborative discovery to identify funding for Maine’s aging and inadequate infrastructure
Ongoing climate resiliency efforts to protect vulnerable WWTF’s in low lying areas
State-level initiatives that prevent stormwater pollution across the state rather than focusing regulation to 30 MS4 municipalities

Support chloride reduction efforts through trainings and certifications
Incorporate low impact development strategies to reduce flooding

18 of 19

MWUA: Long-Term Needs

Matching Funds

Continued support through Maine’s SRF

for every $1 dollar Maine commits, the feds deliver $5

Support at the local level

Maine’s drinking water industry is heavily regulated and what legislators do in Augusta impacts our districts and customers

Advocacy

Maine’s water industry services your constituents with their best interests in mind. Unintended consequences from legislation can deeply impact our ability to serve and protect Maine’s drinking water supply.

19 of 19

Questions?