US town to get new wastewater treatment facility

The town of Oxford in Maine, US is set to receive a $20m wastewater treatment facility and sewer system, for which construction is yet to begin.

As part of the project, a new membrane filtration system will be constructed in a wastewater treatment plant in Welchville Village, on route 26 close to the outskirts of the town.

This will connect with new sewer lines that stretch for approximately six miles along route 26, providing utilities for a new commercial corridor alongside the exisiting Oxford Casino.

A $13.7m loan has been approved by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection for the project. The town also expects revenue from United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development grants.

Oxford town manager Michael Chammings said that town income from the casino will ultimately cover the expenses of the project.

The roadside area will be surveyed by the Main-Land Development Consultants of Livermore Falls, which will also conduct borings and probes of the land. Power Engineers will carry out an archaeological survey of the area, and plans to select sites for pumping stations over the next few weeks.

Once the membrane filtration system is in place, the waste will be ground and sent through a similar system that is used aboard navy vessels and cruise ships.

The waste is then exposed to ultraviolet light and pushed out through charcoal air filters.

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Image: The project will connect new sewer lines that extend for about six miles along Route 26. Photo: courtesy of freedigitalphotos.