Greater Limestone wastewater treatment facility opened in US

The US Department of Agriculture Rural Development (USDA), Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and other state and town officials came together for the inauguration of a wastewater treatment facility located at Plant Road in Limestone, Maine, US.

The $23.4m Greater Limestone regional wastewater treatment facility is a consolidation of two wastewater treatment plants, is aimed at managing wastewater more efficiently and is better equipped at preventing the effluents from flowing into the Limestone Stream, Little Madawaska River and Greenlaw Brook.

Improved water quality at the brooks, streams, and rivers will enhance aquatic life.

The treatment facility has been built with energy-efficient machinery and buildings, including a solar photovoltaic plant that will save up to $37,000 every year.

The upgraded wastewater plant is also expected to create jobs at Limestone’s Loring commerce centre.

USDA Rural Development state director Virginia Manuel was quoted by Bangor Daily News as saying that the new revamped facility reroutes the wastewater away from the rivers.

"It has given the Loring development authority and the old [Loring Air Force] base more capacity to meet their business needs," Manuel added.

USDA Rural Development provided $11.3m for the facility, a major portion of the total cost, with DEP providing $9.3m and the remaining amount contributed from other project partners.

---

Image: The new wastewater treatment facility will prevent effluents from entering the streams and lakes of the city and save aquatic life. Photo: USDA