CARIBOU, Maine — The USDA’s office of Rural Development awarded the Caribou Utilities District with a $1.4 million grant and a $4.2 million loan to upgrade the city’s wastewater treatment facility and collection system.
The $5.6 million package will help prevent overflows of untreated or partially treated wastewater during wet weather.
U.S. Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Angus King, I-Maine, recently released a joint statement regarding the investment, emphasizing the importance of maintaining and upgrading water infrastructure for the environmental health of communities.
“We welcome this significant funding for Caribou to improve its wastewater treatment system, which will help to preserve water quality and public health, increase operation efficiencies at the treatment facility, and protect the surrounding environment,” the two senators said.
Caribou City Manager Dennis Marker said Caribou’s “abundant water supply and low water and sewer rates available through the Caribou Utilities District” are among the city’s greatest assets when it comes to attracting new development.
“We’re happy they were awarded the funds for the project,” Marker said. “The funds will help keep rates low while increasing the sewer capacity for new developments.”
The funding will help improve the facility by removing sludge, removing and replacing aging aeration piping and equipment, replacing lagoon liner, improving hydraulic connectivity between lagoons and the chlorine contact tank, increasing the capacity of lagoons and replacing blowers and controls.
USDA’s Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program helps rural areas and towns with populations under 10,000, tribal lands in rural areas and colonias establish best practices that can save dollars while also improving the environment.
