Read the full article by Kaitlyn Budion (Morning Sentinel)
“FAIRFIELD — As state agencies begin testing for ‘forever chemicals’ at priority sites in Maine, Fairfield, one of the original areas in the contamination crisis, is moving forward with a plan to expand public water to affected areas in the community.
The $48 million project would expand the Kennebec Water District, which already serves some parts of Fairfield, to reach a much larger area of town.
The water district would take over operations and maintenance after construction, although KWD officials have said that to make the project feasible, Fairfield would need to pass an ordinance requiring all locations along the expanded lines to connect to the system — including those without contaminated water.
‘It is mainly for water quality purposes,’ Town Manager Michelle Flewelling said. ‘Say you have a 2-mile run of water line and only one person is using it. Then the chances are that water could become stagnant in the system. So in order for the system to work efficiently, you have to have water usage.’
…The project has been divided into three phases, each which would address different areas of Fairfield.
Phase 1 would involve the installation of 23,275 feet of 8-inch water pipes and cost about $9.85 million. This would reach 63 properties with PFAS levels that exceed the legal limit, and 45 properties that do not reach the PFAS limit for water.
It would include extensions along Old Country Road, a portion of Ohio Hill Road, Bickford Drive, Oakland Road, Six Rod Road and part of Norridgewock Road.
Phase 2 would add 44,980 feet of 12-inch and 8-inch water pipes and be the most expensive phase — about $20.5 million. Part of the cost is driven by a booster chlorination and flow station, which is important for maintaining water quality along the extended lines, according to officials. It would reach 122 properties with PFAS levels that exceed the legal limit, and 66 properties that do not reach the PFAS limit for water.”…