Advertising Supplement to the Sun Journal, Tuesday, June 7, 2011
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L-A UV LIGHT WATER TREATMENT FACILITY
Advertising Supplement, Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Welcome!
Your Auburn Water District, Lewiston Public Works Water Division and Lake Auburn Watershed Protection Commission are pleased to provide this informative supplement about a resource so important to everyone in the Lewiston-Auburn area – our drinking water!
By David Jones, P.E., Director of Public Works, City of Lewiston and John Storer, P.E., Superintendent, Auburn Water & Sewerage Districts La ke Auburn has been a public water supply for 135 years. Auburn residents began using it for drinking water in 1875, and Lewiston started dipping into the lake in 1899. A long tradition of cooperation between t he t wo cities led to protection of water quality by managing buffer properties around the lake and its tributaries, maintaining reasonable access and recreational use of the lands and the lake, protecting the water from invasive species l i ke m i l foi l, a nd add ressi ng a nd mon itor i ng out br e a k s to prevent spreading. The U V disinfection equipment we’ve installed was mandated by the federal Safe Drinking Water Act. But that doesn’t mean that government at all levels has been anything less than vigilant in protecting your drinking water so far. In the past 30 years, the SDWA has safeguarded public health while responding to new and emerging threats to safe drinking water. In fact, disinfection of that water was one of the major public health advances of the 20th century. One hundred years ago, typhoid and cholera epidemics were common in American cities. But now, thanks largely to disinfection, they’re history. Cooperation between the cities’ two water utilities, such as creation of the Lake Auburn Watershed Protection Commission and construction of the UV Light Treatment Facility, have allowed us to meet or exceed all federal SDWA regulations and requirements while keeping water rates in the Twin Cities among the lowest in Maine. The great American, Ben Franklin, once said, “When the well is dry, we learn the worth of water.” A safe, reliable water supply is critical to the success of any community. It creates jobs, attracts industry and investment, and helps ensure the health and welfare of citizens in ways ranging from disease prevention to fire suppression. So please page through this supplement and let us know if you have any questions or suggestions. You can visit us at either www.awsd.org or www.ci.lewiston.me.us. There is no other resource so precious and yet taken for granted so much as safe drinking water.
Today, as we prepare to commission a new Ultraviolet Light Disinfection Facility, we take pride in explaining how your water is treated and protected, and how the partnership between Lewiston and Auburn has helped keep water rates low – among the lowest in the state and nation. CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT SALES • RENTALS • SERVICE
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Advertising Supplement, Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Tuesday, June 7, 2011
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L-A UV LIGHT WATER TREATMENT FACILITY
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Lewiston-Auburn joint Lake Auburn ultraviolet light drinking water treatment facility nears completion By Richard Burnham, P.E. City Engineer, City of Lewiston
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x pa nd i ng on 25 yea rs of w or k i n g t o g e t h e r t o k e e p y ou r w a t e r c le a n , t he L e w i ston Water D i v i sion and Auburn Water District a re building a federal government-
ma ndated U lt rav iolet L ig ht Disinfection Treatment Facility. T hat col laborat ion across t he Androscoggin River will save $2 million a year.
systems in the country, the Lake Auburn watershed is one of only 50 or 60 protected so well that the water doesn’t need to go through expensive filtration.
But don’t get the impression that this means your water is anything less than clean and safe already. Out of 50,000-plus municipal water
A new ruling by the Environmental Protection Agency requires two for ms of d isi n fect ion. In t h is officially “green� project, we will continue to use chlorine along with the new UV treatment. In order to kill and inactivate organisms such as viruses, bacteria, and protozoa that might be in the water, we will dose the water carefully to meet mandated levels of inactivation, w het her t hose orga n i sm s a re pr e s ent or not . Ke e pi n g t he orga nisms out is still our best
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defense, so protection of the lake is of utmost importance.
U V r e a c t or s pr ov ide f u r t her disinfection by treating the water w it h u lt r av iolet l ig ht , w h ich inactivates organisms and renders t hem unable to cause disease. UV is not a chemical and does not linger in the water. In order to keep a disinfectant in the water, we will continue to use chlorine but likely at a lower dose. L e w i s t on a nd A u bu r n w a t e r utilities hired Camp Dresser & McKee of Cambridge, MA, to help settle on the best approach, with an eye to ensuring that our longterm plans stay in compliance well into the future. We examined 64 options, narrowed them to 16, and ended up with the existing chlorine t reat ment a s wel l a s U V. Ou r criteria were effectiveness, cost and ease of construction.
Turner, Maine 225.3030 Congratulations to the Auburn Water District and the City of Lewiston Water Division on your new Ultra Violet Water Disinfection Facility
T he U V Faci l it y w i l l be bu i lt at t he e x i st i ng L a ke Aubu r n Treatment Facility in two phases costing $12 million, with the first one – installing the UV reactors a nd pu mpi ng for u nt reated water – to be finished in June. Phase 2 includes ex pa nsion of the UV building to accommodate chemical treatment, a laboratory, and administration, and will be completed next year. Water utility sta f f f rom bot h L ew iston a nd Auburn systems will operate and maintain the new facility. You r t wo water ut i l it ies have been work ing together to meet federal Safe Drinking Water Act requirements since 1986, as well as the 1996 and 2006 amendments to that law. As noted above, we’re exempted from the law’s filtration requirement because we’ve done such a good job of protecting the
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L-A UV LIGHT WATER TREATMENT FACILITY
Advertising Supplement, Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Forest management helps our water supply
Facility
By Chip Love, Licensed Forester eliminate the supply of dissolved Southern Maine Forestry Services, Inc. oxygen. So that’s why we focus on
watershed from contamination and keeping the water quality at a high natural level. Of course, we still have to treat the water, but it’s much less expensive to treat than polluted water.
We can be grateful that one of La ke Auburn’s greatest assets is the forest that surrounds it. The majesty of the forest goes far beyond its aesthetic quality because it protects, enhances, and restores water resources. And that directly affects the quality of the water in our lake. H i s t o r i c a l l y, t h e A u b u r n Water Dist r ic t a nd t he L a ke Auburn Watershed Protect ion C om m i s s ion ( L AW P C ) h a v e demonstrated farsighted stewardship of the forests they ow n. In the 1930s the Auburn Water D i st r ic t b e g a n for e s t management w it h t he goa l of foresting open lands. Since t he 1960s t hey’ve been p r o f e s s i on a l l y m a n a g e d b y licensed foresters intent on water quality enhancement, promotion of healthy ecosystems, wildlife protection, and cultivation of healthy, marketable trees. What’s more, the LAWPC allows passive recreation such as walking and fishing on most of the lands. Forests are more complicated t ha n t hey appea r, benef it i ng so ma ny creatures, great a nd sma ll, in so many ways. They prov ide clea n a ir, shade, a nd soil stabilization, and they slow dow n the precipitation falling from the sky. They also help remove polluting nutrients, retard water flow over land, take water up from the soil, provide shelter and homes for all forms of life, and keep streams and rivers healthy and cool. A c c or d i n g t o t he A mer ic a n F o r e s t F o u n d a t i o n , “ Tw o t h i rds of t he d r i n k i ng water in the United States is filtered t h r o u g h A m e r i c a’s f o r e s t s . Forests a lso help prevent soil erosion and mitigate f looding. Streamside plantings, increasing pr ot e c t ion z one s a nd ot her m a n a gement ac t i v it ie s help i m pr ov e f i s h h a bit a t , s a f e g ua rd ou r water supply, a nd protect our communities.” Our forest management is aimed pr i ma r i ly at prov id i ng t he highest water quality possible. High-qua lit y water is usua l ly c o ol a nd h ig h i n d i s s ol v e d oxygen, which is crucial for the survival of nearly all plants and a nima ls a nd is essent ia l to a healthy lake. Decomposition of organic materials can reduce or
growing good quality softwoods such as eastern white pine, red pine, and spruce, and reducing the broadleaf (hardwood) trees because t he latter have more organic materials that cut into the dissolved oxygen supply. We cycle our harvest operations eig ht to 12 yea r s apa r t a nd remove lower quality, diseased or da maged t rees. ( We leave some dead trees since 90 percent of w o o d l a nd m a m m a l s a nd birds need dead trees to live, nest, and hide from predators).
impact. Temporary bridges are set up over brook crossings. Skid trails are prepared to allow the ground to freeze solid. Today’s logging equipment is large and heav y, and most of the work is done with hydraulic equipment. Modern skidders remove several trees or bunches at one time, and move on routes that minimize soil and residual stand damage.
T hat way we regenerate new trees and promote better growth on the higher quality trees. It’s a conservative philosophy with an intensive approach. We also practice whole tree chipping, in which smaller diameter stems are weeded and thinned, then cut, chipped, and sold as biomass. Timber harvests are scheduled six months to a year in advance so that the heavy equipment goes in when the ground is frozen or dry. Our licensed professional forester prepares a lot by marking the skid trails and trees to be cut, then orienting the trails for efficiency and the lowest env ironmental
The Cote Corporation
from page 4
Suc c e s sf u l re su lt s requ i re a t h or ou g h u nd e r s t a nd i n g of forestr y, soils, wildlife habitat, loca l a nd state codes, a nd a working knowledge of civil and mechanical engineering. We’re proud of our well-established t radit ion of good forest management and will continue to protect the water supply by promoting healthy forests in the Lake Auburn watershed.
Back in 1996, we worked together to build an inta ke structure in La ke Auburn to bring water into the treatment bu i ld i ng s. We’v e s h a re d chem ica l t reat ment systems a nd have a combined dr in k ing water l a b or at or y f or t e s t i n g . C er t a i n staff positions, such as t he water qua lit y ma nager a nd t he SC A DA (systems control and data acquisition) technician, are shared within the utilities. The new Ult rav iolet L ig ht Treatment Facility is funded in part by federal stimulus money approved by Congress in February 2009. Lewiston and Auburn submitted a joint application for funding under Maine’s State Revolving Loan Fund. We received $7.7 million for Phase 1, split this way – $2.35 million in a grant and the remaining $5.35 million in an interest-free loan. Phase 2 will cost about $3.3 million and will be funded by other mechanisms typical of water utility funding. Lewiston and Auburn are funding the project through water bonds. With change orders, the first phase came to $ 8.6 million. The project will raise rates.
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Advertising Supplement, Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Tuesday, June 7, 2011
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914 Sabattus St., Lewiston
L-A UV LIGHT WATER TREATMENT FACILITY
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What agencies oversee our water system? By Sid Hazelton, P.E. District Engineer Auburn Water & Sewerage Districts
Lake Auburn Watershed Protection Commission. The commission is made up of nine members:
Lewiston Water Division. A d iv ision of t he L ew iston Department of Public Ser v ices, the Lew iston Water Div ision is municipally owned and operated. It is responsible for oversight of the city’s infrastructure, which includes public fire protection and public drinking water.
Auburn Water District. A quasi-municipal entity that was formally organized by a charter granted by the Maine Legislature in 1923, it provides public drinking water and fire protection services to the citizens, businesses, and industries of Auburn. The fiscal a nd oper at iona l de c i sion s of the district are made by a sevenm e m b e r B o a r d o f Tr u s t e e s appointed by the mayor of Auburn and the Auburn City Council.
• T hree members appointed by the Auburn Water District (only one may be an AWD trustee) • T hree members appointed by the city of Lewiston (only one shall be a Lewiston city councilor) • O ne member appointed by the municipal officers of Turner to represent Turner • O ne member appointed by the municipal officers to represent the three towns of Minot, Hebron, and Buckfield • O ne member designated by the Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments Tu r n e r, M i n ot , He br on , a nd Buckfield do not get their water from Lake Auburn. However, nearly one-third of the total watershed acreage for Lake Auburn is located in those neighboring towns.
L AW PC ow ns about 1,350 acres within Auburn. However, through ow nersh ip i n ot her tow ns, conservation easements, and life estates, L AW PC has interest in nearly 2,000 acres in the watershed, including more than 80 percent of the shoreline of Lake Auburn. LAWPC oversees and enforces the watershed protection by-laws on behalf of the Auburn Water District and Lewiston Water Division.
Maine Department of Health and Human Services:
Drinking Water Program T h e M a i n e D r i n k i n g Wa t e r P r o g r a m h e l p s pu bl ic w a t e r systems comply with the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act and state regulations, prov ides technical assistance, works w ith systems to protect source water a reas, and provides grants or loans for infrastructure improvements.
Public Utilities Commission The commission regulates water ut i l it ies to ensu re t hat Ma i ne
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L-A UV LIGHT WATER TREATMENT FACILITY
Department of Environmental Protection The Department of Environmental Protection is an agency of Maine state gover nment cha rged w it h prevent ing, abat ing, a nd c ont r ol l i ng p ol lut ion of t he a i r, la nd, a nd water. T he B u r e a u o f L a n d a n d Wa t e r Qua l it y ad m i n isters severa l programs focusing on watershed m a n a ge me nt , e nv i r on me nt a l assessment, a nd water qua lit y management.
United States Environmental Protection Agency
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consumers enjoy safe, adequate, and reliable services at rates that are just and reasonable for both con su mer s a nd ut i l it ies. T he commission also promotes and reg ulates safe digging t hrough the Dig Safe underground utility damage prevention program.
150 Capitol Street, Suite 5 Augusta, ME 04330 207.623.9511 www.mwua.org
The E PA has primary responsibi l it y for en forci ng m a n y of t h e e n v i r on m e nt a l statutes and regulations of the Un ited States. Under t he Sa fe Dr i n k i ng Water Act, EPA set s legal limits on the levels of certain contaminants in drinking water. The limits ref lect both the level that protects human health and the level that water systems can achieve using the best available technology. EPA also sets watertesting schedules and methods that water systems must follow. The r u les list acceptable techniques for treating contaminated water. SDWA allows states to set and enforce their own drinking water standards if the standards are at least as strong as EPA’s nationa l standards. Most states a nd ter r itor ies d i rect ly oversee the water systems within their borders.
Advertising Supplement, Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Tuesday, June 7, 2011
How UV disinfection works By Sid Hazelton, P.E. District Engineer Auburn Water & Sewerage Districts
What is ultraviolet light? Ultraviolet disinfection systems are mysterious to many people: How can “light� kill bacteria? To start with, ultraviolet technology has been around for 50 years, and its ef fectiveness has been well documented both scientifically a n d c o m m e r c i a l l y. Na t u r e ’s ow n d isi n fect ion/pu r i f icat ion method, UV light is a form of light t hat is inv isible to t he huma n eye. It occupies t he portion of t he elect romag net ic spect r u m between X-rays and visible light. The sun emits ultraviolet light, but much of it is absorbed by the earth’s ozone layer. A unique cha racter ist ic of U V light is that a specific range of its wavelengths, those between 200 and 300 nanometers (billionths of a meter), are “germicidal� – meaning they are capable of inactivating microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and protozoa. That has led to w idespread adopt ion of UV light as an environmentally friendly, chemical-free, and highly
ef fect ive way to d isin fect a nd safeguard water against harmful microorganisms.
How does UV work? Un l i k e c he m ic a l a ppr o a c he s to water d isin fect ion, U V l ig ht prov ides rapid, ef fect ive inactivation of microorganisms through a physical process. When bacteria, v iruses, and protozoa a re ex posed to t he ger m icida l wavelengths of UV light, they are rendered incapable of reproducing and infecting. U V l i g ht i n a c t i v a t e s m i c r o organisms via damage to nucleic acids. The high energy associated with short-wavelength UV energy, primarily at 254 nanometers, is absorbed by cellular RNA and DNA. That absor pt ion of U V energ y forms new bonds between adjacent nuc le ot ide s, c r e at i n g dou ble bonds or “dimers.� Dimerization of adjacent molecules, particularly t hy mine, is t he most common photochemical damage. Formation of numerous thymine dimers in the DNA of bacteria and viruses prevents replication and destroys the ability to infect.
UV Operations, Automated Computer Control Screen
What are the benefits of using UV? For many decades, chlorine has been used successfully in drinking water treatment. However, some ch lor i ne-resi st a nt or ga n i sm s, such a s Cr y ptospor id iu m a nd Giardia, are harmful to humans. For e x a m p le , i n 19 9 3, m or e than 400 people died and some 400,000 became ill as a result of
a C r y pt o s p or id iu m out br e a k i n t he d r i n k i ng w ater supply of Milwaukee, W I. UV is highly effective at treating these chlorineresistant organisms.
• S ome or ga n ic c ont a m i na nt s removed
T h e a dvant a ge s of u sing U V disinfection include:
• No on-site smell and no smell in the final water product
• N o know n tox ic or significant nontoxic byproducts
• Very little contact time (seconds versus m i nutes for chem ica l disinfection)
• N o volatile organic compound emissions or toxic air emissions
• No danger of overdosing
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Advertising Supplement, Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Tuesday, June 7, 2011
L-A UV LIGHT WATER TREATMENT FACILITY
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PROTECTING LAKE AUBURN:
Clean drinking water for the future By Rebecca Balke, P.E. , Principal, Project Manager, Comprehensive Environmental, Inc. We all agree that drinking water should be clean and safe, but not everyone may understand how it’s
done. The best method is also the simplest: Protect your source! T he c onc ept of prote c t ion i s si mple : prevent conta m i na nts from reaching the source, which i s m o r e c o s t- e f f e c t i v e t h a n remov ing conta m inat ion a f ter
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L-A UV LIGHT WATER TREATMENT FACILITY
the fact. The cities of Auburn and Lew iston can ta ke pride in the fact that Lake Auburn is one of only a handful of surface waters in the U.S. that has pure enough water to get a waiver from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency from expensive, complex filtration.
But clean water doesn’t just happen by itself. Diligent water quality mon itor i ng a nd a n ex ten sive water supply protection program have maintained that filtration waiver since 1991, saving water users tens of millions of dollars in treatment and operation costs.
Congratulations L/A! We are proud to have been involved in the construction.
S o how do w e pr ot e c t L a k e Auburn? The objective is to keep contaminants out of t he water through management of the lake and its watershed, which is why we have rules and regulations. T he a n s w e r t o t he c om mon question, “Why can’t I swim in Lake Auburn?” is that any body contact w it h t he water ca n i nt roduce harmful coliform bacteria, which can jeopardize the filtration waiver and require expensive treatment. Hu ma n contact isn’t t he on ly c onc e r n ; dome s t ic a nd w i ld a n i ma ls, i nclud i ng seag u l ls that roost on the water, can also i nt roduce ha r m f u l col i for m b a c t e r i a . Sm a l l r e c r e a t ion a l boats a re a llowed in a certa in portion of the lake away from the water intake pipes. In this same “open fishing” area, people can fish from the shoreline. T he w ater she d mu st a l s o be managed since the rainwater that falls on it eventually reaches the la ke as groundwater, or much less li kely, stormwater. Runof f and groundwater can enter the lake directly or through one of
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Protecting
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Advertising Supplement, Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Protecting from page 8
t he ma ny strea ms t hat feed in from the watershed. There’s little or no stormwater runoff from the forest; instead rainwater percolates through the forest soils to become pure groundwater. But once parking lots, roads and houses a re added, stor mwater r u nof f i nc re a s e s a nd c a n b e polluted by winter salt applications on roadways and parking lots; oil and grease from vehicles; nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen from residential and agricultural fertilizer applications; and coliform bacteria from domestic animals. Nut rients a nd bacteria a re t he pr ima r y pol luta nts of concer n in surface drinking water. Here’s why: Nutrients such as phosphorus are the food source for algae. Too much phosphorus promotes algal blooms a nd excessive aquat ic plant growth that lead to hard-toremove taste and odor problems in drinking water. That can turn pristine lakes like Lake Auburn from clear to green, weedy and pol luted i n a relat ively shor t period of time if left uncontrolled. Some coliform bacteria can cause human illnesses, so levels must be kept to a minimum to keep the filtration waiver. Surface runoff is not the only source of such cont a m i na nt s. Sept ic systems can a lso t hreaten la ke water quality, with the potential for untreated wastewater entering the la ke and contributing bot h nutrients and coliform bacteria. Keeping houses and septic systems away f rom t he nea r shorel i ne and having strong septic system requ i rements for locat ion, installation, and maintenance are keys to preventing pollution from septic waste.
T he L a k e A u bu r n Wat er s he d P rotect ion Com m ission wa s for me d to prote c t t he w atershed and water qua lit y of La ke Auburn. Thanks to the LAWPC and the cities of Auburn and Lewiston, more t ha n 8 0 perc ent of t he shoreline is owned by the LAWPC, prov iding a natura l buffer t hat helps protect water quality. But t hat doesn’t mean t hat t he L AW P C i s ig nor i ng s o - c a l le d “passive recreation.” In fact, it’s evaluating opportunities to provide more of it to the public, such as cooperative trail systems with local landholders. Passive recreation has litt le or no impact on t he natural environment, and includes walking, bicycling and fishing. It does not include motorized vehicle activ it y, vegetation remova l, or building structures. To en s u r e t h at L a k e Aubu r n r em a i n s one of t he c le a ne s t lakes in the region, the L AW PC recently contracted with the New E ng la nd f i r m C omprehen sive E nv i ron ment a l, I nc., w h ich spe c ia l i z e s i n w ater she d a nd water supply ma nagement, to update it s 1987 Water shed Management Plan. The plan outlines a program to address ex ist ing a nd potent ia l pollution sources in the watershed over t he nex t 10 yea rs to help m a i nt a i n a nd i mpr ov e w ater q u a l i t y. L a k e A u b u r n i s a n outstanding resource. Let’s keep it that way! For more information on how you can help protect Lake Auburn’s w ater qu a l it y or to v ie w t he Water shed Ma nagement Pla n, contact Mary Jane Dillingham by phone at 784-6469 or email her at mjdillingham@awsd.org.
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Lake Auburn is an outstanding resource. Let’s keep it that way!
Advertising Supplement, Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Tuesday, June 7, 2011
L-A UV LIGHT WATER TREATMENT FACILITY
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Take a walk through the new LewistonAuburn Ultraviolet Light Water Treatment Facility Photo 1: Flow balancing header piping (post-UV treatment) with operator at valve actuator control panel. Photo 2 : (Foreg rou nd) Cit y of A u bu r n w a t e r s u ppl y pu m p s (blue color). (Background) Flow monitoring equipment.
Photo 2 above, photo 10 below
Photo 3 above, photo 4 below
Photo6 below
Photo5 below
Photo 3: Two UV reactors. Sentinel model manufactured by Ca lgon Carbon Corporation. Each reactor is certified to treat 8 million gallons of water per day. Photo 4: Parallel inlet strainers with 500 micron 35 mesh size positioned on inlet to UV reactors.
Photo 1 above
Photo 5: Lewiston/Auburn SCADA technician Dan Rodrigue at strainer automatic backwash system, piping and pumps. Photo 6: Strainer control panels in foreground. Operator at strainer backwash pump. Photo 7: Back-up power generator. One of two generators. Photo 8: Excavation at a depth of 25 feet for connection to city of L ew iston g rav it y t ra nsm ission main. Photo 9: Outdoor back-up power generator enclosure. One of two gener ator s. S ou nd-at tenu ate d enclosure to minimize noise.
Photo 7 below, photo 8 left, photo 9 above
Photo 10: Sectional view of 60-footlong UV treatment train. Strainers i n foreg rou nd. U V reactors i n backg rou nd, prot ud i ng beh i nd operator.
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Advertising Supplement, Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Advertising Supplement, Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Tuesday, June 7, 2011
L-A UV LIGHT WATER TREATMENT FACILITY 11
History and formation of the Lake Auburn Watershed Protection Commission By Kevin Gagne, Water & Sewer Superintendent City of Lewiston
states to mandate t he creation of source protection programs. The amendments also required filtration of degraded surface water supplies to protect public health. Faced with the prospect of building a filtration plant that might have cost as much as $50 million, the cities’ two utilities worked together to get a “waiver from filtration,” for which they had to document that they could meet six specific SWTR requirements:
LAWPC, the Lake Auburn Watershed Protection Commission, was formed in 1993 as a joint entity of Lewiston and Auburn to protect t he L a ke Aubu r n w at er s he d . Before t hat, t he Auburn Water D i st r ic t a nd L e w i ston Wat er Div ision worked independently and maintained separate intake facilities, treatment equipment, and laboratory facilities.
• M eet m i n i mu m d i si n fec t ion requirements. • E stablish a watershed control program.
It wasn’t until the federally mandated Surface Water Treatment Rule came along in 1989 that the two water utilities began to discuss partnering, both to protect Lake Auburn and to share operational costs. The SWTR required that all surface water supplies (such as Lake Auburn) would have to be filtered unless they met detailed criteria for water quality and source water protection. T he Sa fe Dr i n k i ng Water Ac t was passed in 1974 to protect t he qua l it y of d r i n k i ng water in the U.S. In subsequent years
• C onduct a sanitary survey of the watershed. • Document that Lake Auburn had no previous waterborne disease outbreaks. • E nsu re compl ia nce w it h EPA re g u l at ion s for d i si n fe c t ion byproducts.
the SDWA has been amended to continue to improve public water quality, protection, and treatment.
Congratulations on a wonderful facility.
President Ronald Reagan authorized an amendment to the SDWA in 1986, which ultimately led to
development of the SW TR. The rule aimed to protect aquifers from pollutants by requiring individual
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• E nsure complia nce w it h la ke water bacteria requirements. Two of t he re qu i re d item s – disinfection and dealing with byproducts – involved water treatment. Two more items related directly to ex isting water quality – establishing historically low levels of bacteria and documenting t he a bs enc e of a ny pre v iou s waterborne diseases. The sanitary survey was a straightforward effort. L AW PC owes it s ex i stence to t he f ina l item – establishing a w a t e r s h e d c ont r o l p r o g r a m . Getting t hat ambitious project pla nned a nd implemented lef t Lewiston and Auburn little choice but to work as a team. The state of Maine, under authority of the federal Environmental Protection Agency, eventually granted the Twin Cities a waiver from filtration, but only after approving a specific water quality monitoring prog ra m to ensure public health, and upon creating a joint watershed protection team. P repa r i ng for t he S W T R, t he Auburn Water District had hired an engineering consultant, Camp Dresser & McKee of Cambridge, MA, to evaluate the lake’s water qua lit y a nd deter mine how to
History
page 15 ‰
Advertising Supplement, Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Starting at the beginning to keep drinking water safe and secure By Andy Tolman, C.G., Hydrologist, Assistant Director Maine Drinking Water Program
W hen President Reagan signed t he 1986 A mend ment s to t he Safe Drinking Water Act, ripples formed in ponds all over Maine. Ma ny publ ic water systems used lakes and ponds as their water source, and served the water to their customers after disinfecting with chlorine. The new law required that they install filtration unless they could prove that the water qualit y in their lake and t hei r watershed protect ion prov ided strong enough public health protection. Over the next several years, water s y stem s i n Ma i ne c onduc te d studies and made plans in order to avoid spending the tens of millions of dollars it would cost to put in filtration plants. Some systems abandoned their surface sources and drilled wells. Many ended up installing filtration plants, and about a dozen were able to show that they didn’t need filtration. Lewiston and Auburn have shared La ke Auburn as their drink ing water source since 1873. In 1993, in response to the new federa l r e q u i r e m e nt s f or w a t e r s h e d protection, they formed the Lake Aubu r n Watershed Protect ion Commission. The Lake Auburn watershed i ncludes la nd i n Auburn, Turner, Hebron, Minot and Buckfield, and membership on the commission ref lects this diversity. The commission and the water systems faced a significant challenge in that the Lake Auburn Water she d, pa r t ic u la rl y ne a r the lake, has significant existing development and includes Route 4, a major transportation corridor. In order to maintain water quality i n t he la ke, t he c om m i s sion w or k e d w i t h l a nd o w n e r s t o acquire shoreline and other key watershed properties, and to purchase easements and develop management pla ns for rema i n i ng properties. The commission currently manages land use on 20
percent of the watershed, including 80 percent of the shoreline. It has a lso adopted a set of la nd use and development standards based on good science to keep drinking water safe during and after development.
John Jenkins photo
W hen the federal EPA assessed drinking water supplies in Maine, the hard work and diligence of the water systems and the commission proved impressive. To maintain water quality and continue to serve t heir customers water w it hout filtration, Lewiston and Auburn must continue to be vigilant about w ater shed protec t ion, sav i ng customers a lot of money a nd keeping the lake clean and safe. Without continuing management by t he commission, t he la ke’s water qua l it y probably wou ld have su f fered, a nd a lgae a nd a q u at ic pl a nt g r ow t h w ou ld have increased. Both the fishery and aesthetic quality of the lake would have been a continuing problem. The Ma ine Dr in k ing Water Program is proud to be a partner with our water systems, and particularly proud of the work that Lewiston and Auburn and the other commission members do to keep Lake Auburn safe and secure.
Bio of author Andrews L. Tolman, C.G., Assistant Director, Maine Drinking Water Prog ra m, has been pract ici ng hydrogeology since 1975. His work has included a variety of public and private sector assignments involving ground water resource assessment, development, a nd management. Most of his current time and energy are going towards developi ng i mplementat ion strategies for long term protection a nd s u s t a i n a bi l it y of pu bl ic w at er s y s t em s , a nd w or k i n g with PWS’s who want to improve t hei r prepa red ness. A ndy ha s a BS f rom Bates Col lege a nd two MS’s from the University of Wisconsin in Geology and Water Resources Management. He is a Maine Licensed Class IV Water Tr e a t m e nt a n d D i s t r i b u t i on System Operator. Contact Andy: Andrews.L.Tolman@maine.gov.
Advertising Supplement, Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Tuesday, June 7, 2011
L-A UV LIGHT WATER TREATMENT FACILITY 13
GOOD FOR YOU:
The rules and regulations of water quality testing By Mary Jane Dillingham, Water Quality Manager Lewiston & Auburn Water
T
he safet y of our drink ing water is of utmost importance to all of us in this industry of water purveyors. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Maine Drink ing Water Program set standards for water qua l it y a nd en force t he r u les a nd reg ulations governing our drinking water. W hen ut i l it ies ma ke cha nges to water treatment, it’s usua lly because t hey’re driven by new or upcoming standards, in part due to advancing technology that lets us measure conta m ina nts to lower and lower levels. A lso, ca ref u l resea rch ca n help determine the health effects of contaminants, how they get into our environment, and the levels that might be harmful. All standards are set at levels that ensure a ver y low risk from ex-
posure in drinking water. Because we are exposed in our day-to-day lives to contaminants found in our food, air, soil, and the products we consume, our drinking water is strictly regulated to keep our exposure as low as possible. La ke Auburn is a specia l la ke. There a re less t ha n 60 surface water suppl ies i n ou r cou nt r y t h at do not f i lter t he w ater. L a ke Aubu r n is one of t hem. We have ma ny rest r ict ions on the recreational use of our lake. Working hard to keep contamination out of La ke Auburn is a priority partly because we do not filter it. Another reason for the restrictions is the ever-present fact of development pressures. In fact, we’d impose restrictions even if we filtered the water. Remember: It’s much less expensive and risky to treat clean water than polluted water. The most harmful contaminants to keep out of Lake Auburn are hu ma n-to-hu ma n d i sea ses. That is why body contact w it h
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t h e w a t e r i s n ot p e r m it t e d . Typhoid, dysentery, hepatitis, and cholera are examples of watertransmitted diseases that have led to serious illness and death. To further ensure that the water is free of such organisms, we disinfect it with chlorine and chloramines and now ultraviolet light. By both keeping people out of the water and disinfecting it, we’ve kept the risk of contracting a disease from Lake Auburn’s treated drinking water at an extremely low level. Protecting Lake Auburn takes a lot of work, and we measure our success by testing the water to ensure its safet y as a drink ing water source. Also, since we add
chemicals to finish the water, we monitor those treatments as well. We test the water continuously (24-7) for most of our chemicals. We also check it weekly throughout Lew iston a nd Auburn, a nd we test the streams that deliver water to the lake and many locations in the lake itself. T ha n k s to ag r icu lt u ra l a nd c om merc ia l ac t iv it ie s i n ou r w a t e r s h e d , w e a l s o t e s t f or certain chemicals. For instance, some f a r mer s u se herbic ide s a nd pest icides on t heir crops. Based on what the farmers tell us about that usage, we check the water for them. We also test for gasoline products and MTBE, a
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gasoline additive that could harm water quality, since roads are close to our lake and we do allow small recreational boats on the water. We test the untreated water in the lake and in the tributaries feeding Lake Auburn for bacteria such as E.coli and certain protozoans such as Giardia and Cryptosporiduim. We also test the untreated water for nutrients that include phosphorus and nitrogen compounds. Ot her i nd icators of pol lut ion, such as chlorophyll and a lgae, secchi disk (clarity), conductivity, d issolved ox ygen a nd orga n ic compounds, are routinely monitored. We a lso gat her sa mples for h i stor ic a l d at a ba s e s t h at i nclude color, pH a nd temperature measurements. We even sea rch t he waters for invasive pl a nt s a nd a n i m a l s s uc h a s Eurasian milfoil and some species of fish, crayfish, snails and mussels that could harm the delicate ecosystems keeping our lake healthy. We test the water as we are treating it w it h ch lorine, corrosion inhibitors that keep your household plumbing pipes from leaching lead and copper, and f luoride to keep levels in proper balance for optimum effect to prevent tooth decay. In-line (24-7) monitors measure the levels of chlorine, f luoride, pH, and temperature. Computers record the data continuously and are connected to alarms to ensure t hat a l l systems a re working properly. You may have seen us i n t he Tw in Cities collecting samples. Wetest the water throughout the distribution systems to be sure it’s safe and within optimum levels for maximum benefit. We check the water in our storage tanks as well to make sure it’s kept fresh. W hen new water ma i ns a re i nsta l led, we check t he pipes before they go into service. Some water pipes are older and may have to be replaced, so we keep track of those areas. Water qua lit y data a re cr ucia l and tell the story of how the water, our processes, our operat ions, and planning are working. Data can also predict degradation and improvement, which is important for regulators and water operators who monitor our drinking water.
So that’s how we will continue to make sure you have safe drinking water.
Advertising Supplement, Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Tuesday, June 7, 2011
LAWPC: When is enough enough?
History
By John Storer, P.E., Superintendent Auburn Water & Sewerage Districts
treat the water and protect the w a t e r s h e d . T he e n g i ne e r i n g st udy ’s key recom mendat ion : “E s t a bl i s h t he L a k e A u bu r n Watershed Commission consisting of members from the Auburn Water District, Lewiston Wa t e r D e p a r t m e nt , a nd t he A nd roscogg in Va l ley Reg iona l Planning Commission.”
phosphorus run-off. If you can’t control the land through direct ownership, zoning restrictions are the next most effective solution.
T
he Lew iston Auburn Wat er s he d P r ot e c t ion Commission was created as a cooperative effort of Lewiston a nd Aubu r n to meet t he re qu i rement s of t he Su r f ac e Water Treatment Rule. The SWTR mandated an effective watershed control program to protect the publ ic w ater supply f rom a l l human activities that may have an adverse effect. To control activities within the watershed, we rely either on land ownership or zoning regulations to ensu re proper protect ions. While LAWPC has tried to control ow ner sh ip of t he i m me d iate shoreline of Lake Auburn, the city of Auburn has protected the Lake Auburn Watershed through several zoning restrictions. That includes the Lake Auburn Overlay District, w h ich ha s i nd iv idua l z on i ng requirements for septic systems, soil disturbance, and allowable
In 1924, trustees of the Auburn Water Dist r ict bega n a for ma l policy “to purchase land boardi ng on L a ke Aubu r n a s such land comes to market.” By 1941, re c ord s s a id “t h at si nc e t he policy of acquiring land on the shore of L a ke Aubu r n bega n, nea rly 200 cottages have been removed. Less than 40 remain.” By 1991, the Auburn Water District had acquired nea rly 750 acres within the Lake Auburn watershed. Si nce L AW PC w a s created i n 1993, about 600 more acres have been protected i n Aubu r n. A s LAWPC obtains land, it becomes t a x-e x empt . I n t u r n, L AW P C aut hor i zes pa ssive recreat ion on the land – fishing, hiking, etc. We simply restrict access after sundown and before sunrise. Critics often ask, “When is enough enough?” when it comes to taking la nd of f t he ta x rol ls. L AW PC commissioners are sensitive to the
Congratulations Lewiston & Auburn on Your New Water Treatment Facility. THE POWER BEHIND YOUR PROCESS 207-799-1538
from page 12
matter, and the land acquisition effort has slowed significantly. For instance, 2010 saw only one purchase, and it involved one of the remaining cottage parcels on the west shore of Lake Auburn. What’s more, the creation of LAWPC has saved ratepayers and ta xpayers millions of dollars. Today LAWPC owns slightly more than 80 percent of the shoreline of Lake Auburn – our irreplaceable asset as the sole source of public drinking water for the two cities.
What about the amount and current assessed value of LAWPC’s taxexempt property? According to Auburn records, LAWPC owns about 1,340 acres in the city, worth some $1.7 million. In total, the city has nearly $300 million of tax-exempt properties and LAWPC lands aren’t even in the Top 10. A listing of the top taxexempt valuations follows:
Enough page 16 ‰
The logic behind that suggestion was t hat severa l tow ns w it hin the Lake Auburn watershed lay outside Auburn. In those areas, the Auburn Water District had no control over land use or other activ ities that could affect the la ke a nd t he d r i n k i ng w ater supply. So the engineering study recommended a more “regional” type of commission, adding that it be established as soon as possible. Ma i lings to a l l watershed residents fol lowed, as wel l as mu lt iple pu bl ic he a r i n g s i n 1991 to discuss t he for mat ion o f L AW P C a n d i t s b y l a w s . Of f icia l ly created in 1993, t he commission has a nine-member board with three representatives appointed by the Auburn Water District, three by the Lewiston City
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Council, one by Turner and one b y t he A nd r o s c o g g i n Va l le y Cou nci l of Gover n ments. T he tow ns of Hebron, Mi not, a nd Buck f ield a lso have a sha red appointment to the commission. L AW PC has no pa id sta f f, but get s operat iona l money f rom the Lewiston Water Division and Auburn Water District. LAWPC’s planned 2011 operations budget is $119,788, which includes equal cont r ibut ions of $ 54,720 f rom both the Auburn Water District a nd Lew iston Water Div ision. A small amount of revenue comes from timber harvesting of LAWPC la nd a nd f rom t he bu l k water haulers that withdraw water from Lake Auburn. They include the “Splash” trucks that haul water to fill swimming pools. In turn, LAWPC reimburses Lewiston and Auburn for costs such a s m a i nt a i n i ng t he Rout e 4 boat lau nch ; f u r n i sh i ng a nd ma i nt a i n i ng por t a-pot t ies at the boat launch and at the North Auburn picnic and fishing area; m a i nt a i n i ng t he L a ke Shore Drive turnouts, including lawn mowing, park benches, and trash collection; maintaining Spring Road a s a re c reat iona l a rea, including mowing, culvert repair a nd replacement s ; ma nag i ng and controlling invasive plants within The Basin, one of the key watershed tributaries, as well as Lake Auburn; patrolling around t he la ke ; a nd mon itor ing a nd sampling water quality. L AW P C’s emer genc e h a s le d to numerous cooperat ive arrangements between the Auburn Water District and Lewiston Water Div ision, keeping costs under control for both water ratepayers and taxpayers. E xa mples include a joint l a b o r a t o r y, w i t h a s i n g l e shared water qua lit y manager; const r uct ion of a si ng le joi nt inta ke; construction of shared chem ica l t reat ment faci l it ies ; a sha red super v isor y cont rol a nd data acqu isit ion s y stem ; employ ment of a joint SC A DA technician; shared bid processes for engineering services, annual trench paving, annual chemical supplies, and other construction projects such as clea ning a nd rel i n i ng of water ma i ns ; a nd creation of a joint HAZMAT Team to respond to chemical spills or conf ined space (below-ground facilities) rescues.
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Advertising Supplement, Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Tuesday, June 7, 2011
L-A UV LIGHT WATER TREATMENT FACILITY 15
How watershed protection saves us money
Enough from page 15
City of Auburn top 10 tax-exempt entities Equity
Assessed Value % Total Value
City-owned property
$88,335,700
29.75
Charitable organizations
$35,453,000
11.94
Mid Maine Waste
$34,776,700
11.71
Central Maine Comm. Coll.
$31,038,600
10.45
Churches
$25,636,400
8.63
Auburn Housing Authority
$19,079,300
6.43
Lit/Scientific
$12,839,000
4.32
Androscoggin County
$10,406,800
3.51
L/A Airport
$8,450,600
2.85
Railroads
$8,352,700
2.81
LAWPC lands account for less than one-half of one percent of the nearly $300 million tax-exempt valuation of the city of Auburn.
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he for mat ion of L AW PC in 1993 created a specia l partnership bet ween t he Lew iston a nd Aubu r n water utilities t hat has helped s ave ou r t w o c it ie s m i l l ion s and millions of dollars, thanks mostly to not having to build a complex water filtration plant.
oper at ion s a nd m a i ntena nc e ex pen ses of $1 m i l l ion to $ 2 million. Ot her cost benef its of LAWPC include consolidation of separate and redundant entities into a combined effort of shared staff and resources.
The cities avoided the filtration requ i rement by combi n i ng t heir resources to aggressively protect La ke Aubu r n a nd maintain excellent water quality. The cost for a filtration plant was estimated to be as high as $ 50 million, with additional annual
There was no need for Lewiston and Auburn to maintain their own entities, not when we could cooperate to save money.
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L o w w a t e r r a t e s b e n e f it a l l water customers as well as the taxpayers of the two cities. Most revenue for each water ut i lit y comes through metered use of water by commercial, residential, i ndust r ia l, a nd gover n menta l customers. However, much of the money passes directly through the cities to fund public fire protection. T h e M a i n e P u b l i c Ut i l i t i e s Commission has strict rules and reg ulations for f unding public fire protection, mostly through fire hydrants. MPUC’s mandate is to ensure that all customers are treated fair and equitably. MPUC requires each water utility to charge a fee to the municipality it serves to cover the cost of providing and maintaining public fire hydrants. The MPUC realizes that many water utilities in Maine were originally developed to provide fire protection. Providing drinking water was actually a secondar y consideration. To d a y, w a t e r s y s t e m s m u s t “oversize� their infrastructure – including pumps, water mains, a nd storage ta n ks – to ensure sufficient flow for fire hydrants. One of t he most com mon m ispercept ions about f i re protection charges is that they are essentially “hydrant rentals.� But that term fails to acknowledge fire protection as the other crucial i n f ra st r uct u re t hat ma kes up a w ater ut i l it y. W it hout t hat infrastructure, the water could never get to the hydrant. No matter how the water utilities are structured, MPUC mandates that a portion of municipal taxes go directly to the water utilit y to cover public f ire protection and fire hydrants. When a water ut i lit y is cha r tered to prov ide f ire protection, it is of ten t wo to three times larger than if it provided drinking water alone. The actual financial calculation i s qu ite det a i le d, but M PUC essentially assigns a percentage of r e v e nu e t h a t mu s t c om e f rom mu n icipa l ta xes. T he percentage is based on factors such as number of customers and magnitude of customer demands. Loca lly, Auburn ta xpayers pay a b out $ 5 41,0 0 0 a n nu a l l y for publ ic f i re prote c t ion, w h i le Lewiston taxpayers pay $593,000. If water rates had doubled or tripled due to costly filtration equipment, the resultant public fire protection charges would have doubled or tripled as well.
Advertising Supplement, Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Lake Auburn benefits by protecting Little Wilson Pond By Dick Thibodeau LAWPC Commissioner & Member of Little Wilson Pond Association In 1991, due to the excellent quality of its’ water, La ke Auburn was exempted from the Federal and State Clean Water Act requirement t hat water ut i l it ies prov ide filtration to meet certain water quality standards. In order to maintain the waiver f rom f i lt rat ion, one of t he requirements was to establish a Watershed Commission that would be responsible for the stewardship of maintaining the water quality of Lake Auburn. The La ke Auburn Watershed is compr ised of por t ions of f ive communit ies ; Auburn, Tur ner, Minot, Hebron, a nd Buck f ield. In each community the land that fa l ls w it h i n t he L a ke Aubu r n Watershed is the land w ith the h ig hest elev at ion s t hat d ra i n water f rom ra infa ll a nd snowmelt into the ground or streams w h ich event ua l ly empt y i nto Lake Auburn. The health of Lake Auburn can be threatened by non-point source pollution comprised of various t y pes of pollutants collectively k now n a s c u mu lat i ve ef fe c t . One pol luta nt in pa r t icu la r is pho s phor u s , a nut r ie nt t h a t attaches to soil particles and is transported by water runoff into the lake.
improve the health of the lake or reduce the consequences suffered by t he la ke f rom phosphor u s loading. Therefore it is important to continue with efforts to prevent phosphor us loading, ma inta in t he current water qua lit y, a nd protect the natural resource within our community. The comment “W hen you point the finger of blame at someone e l s e , y o u’r e p o i n t i n g t h r e e fingers at yourself.� illustrates the responsibilit y we have rega rdi ng t he ma i ntena nce of water quality in all lakes and streams. Each of us cont r ibutes to t he presence of phosphorus in water. It comes from vehicle ex haust, motor oil leaks, additives, road salt, garden and lawn fertilizers, failing septic systems, development, i mper v ious su r faces, reduced vegetat ion, a nd ag r icultural activities. Positive land use practices w ill reduce and control the amount of phosphorus that reaches Lake Auburn. Homeowners can make appropr iate choices for home ca re a nd la ke associations a re critical in providing information a nd s upp or t f or l a ndow ne r s adjac ent to b o d ie s of w ater. W it h cont i nu i ng educat ion of cit i zens, la nd use reg u lat ion,
Two sub-watersheds, Mud Pond and Little Wilson Pond, in Turner are tributaries draining into the ba si n enter i ng L a ke Aubu r n . L a nd u s e or d i n a nc e s i n t he Comprehensive Plan for Turner require a “high protection� prov ision i n reference to la nd development in the watershed. The Little Wilson Pond Improvement Association has been involved in a number of projects that improve land use and abate runoff. Several years ago, through the use of grant money, the Lake Auburn Watershed Protection Commission worked with the Auburn Highway Depa r t ment to i n st a l l l a r ger culverts at the Little Wilson Pond outlet. This project was significant in that a considerable amount of erosion has been prevented each
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year when the pond floods during spring runoff or a strong storm event occurs. A su r vey of sept ic systems surrounding Little Wilson Pond, conducted by the La ke Auburn Watershed Protection Commission in cooperation with Turner’s Code Enforcement Officer, identified possible system problems a nd prov ided la ndow ners w it h suggested improvements. Several conservation easements in Hebron, Turner, and Auburn also help maintain the lake quality. Representatives for the outlying
tow ns attend a nd vote at each LAWSPC meeting. A r t icle s a nd stor ie s de sc r ibe La ke Aubur n as “The Jewel in t he Crow n.� W h i le prov id i ng a n abunda nt source of qua lit y d r i n k i n g w a t e r, t he l a k e a lso prov ides recreat iona l opportunities such as boating, fishing, water for swimming pools, water for fire protection, beautiful scenic views, and tranquil sunsets. With small personal changes each of us can contribute to a “positive cumulative effect� to preserve this bountiful natural resource.
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The effects of an algal bloom on a lake can be change in color, odor, taste, turbidit y, a nd d issolved oxygen. Cold water fish species, trout and salmon, can disappear due to the low dissolved oxygen in the water column.
Dr i n k i ng water qua l it y wou ld b e m a i nt a i ne d a c c or d i n g t o government sta nda rds but t he f i lt r a t ion f a c i l it y w ou ld not
Thirty-three percent, 3106 acres, of L a k e A u bu r n’s w a t e r s he d consists of land in surrounding communities. Mutual cooperation among the tow ns and the Lake Aubu r n Watershed P rotect ion Commission promotes positive benefits for everyone.
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P l a nt l i f e i n L a k e A u b u r n’s ecosystem, such a s a lgae, a re dependent on phosphor u s a s p a r t of t he nut r ient s uppl y. W hen t he nor ma l ba la nce of nut r ient s c h a nge s due t o a n i n c r e a s e i n p h o s p h or u s , a lgae popu lat ions i ncrea se a nd a lga l bloom s c a n resu lt .
Should t he t hreat of increased phosphorus loading occur to a degree that filtration be required, m i l l ion s of dol la r s wou ld be required to build a water treatment faci l it y, w it h add it iona l su ms of money requ i red for a n nua l operation and maintenance.
best ma nagement pract ices in forest ha r vest ing a nd ag r icu lt u re, phosphor us loading ca n be reduced a nd water quality maintained.
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Advertising Supplement, Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Tuesday, June 7, 2011
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L-A UV LIGHT WATER TREATMENT FACILITY 17
A training laboratory on Lake Auburn for Maine’s volunteer lake monitors By Scott Williams, Aquatic Biologist, Executive Director Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program T h e M a i n e Vo l u n t e e r L a k e Monitoring Program, formed in 1971, is America’s longest standing a nd one of t he la rgest cit i zen lake monitoring programs in the countr y. V LMP trains, certifies, and provides technical support to “citizen scientists” who gather data on the health of lakes and ponds throughout the state. More than 1,000 highly committed VLMP volunteers are keeping an eye on some 500 lakes in all 16 counties, prov iding the largest source of lake data in the state. The remarkable work of our volunteer monitors dur ing t he past four
decades has saved Maine many millions of dollars. The V LMP is a nonprof it organization that works closely with towns, lake and watershed a s s o c i a t ion s , s oi l a nd w a t e r conservation districts, government agencies at all levels, educational a nd resea rch inst itut ions, a nd others to gather information that helps protect Maine’s exceptionally clear, clean lakes. Maine’s VLMP has been repeatedly cited as a nat iona l model of a n ef fect ive public/private partnership. V L M P volu nteer s a re t r a i ned to mon itor i nd ic ators of la ke water quality and to screen lakes for invasive aquatic plants and a nima ls, such as va r iable lea f milfoil. Many of t he dozens of
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t ra ining workshops conducted by VLMP staff every summer take place on Lake Auburn – an ideal field laboratory for people who are learning how lakes function. O ne ver y si mple, qu ick , a nd inexpensive way to measure the health of a lake is by determining water clarity – the distance that one can see down into the lake from the surface. New volunteers are trained to make this measurement using a small black and white disk attached to a measuring tape. The disk is slowly lowered into t he water wh i le t he volu nteer looks through a “viewing scope,” a simple 6-inch plastic tube that works like a diver’s mask. W hen the disk disappears, the distance is recorded, along with ambient conditions like wind speed, cloud cover, and lake surface conditions. T he av er a ge “S e c c h i dept h,” m e a n i n g w a t e r c l a r i t y, f o r Ma i ne la kes ra nges f rom on ly a few inches for lakes with high le v el s of a lg ae (t i ny aqu at ic plants) to well over 40 feet for a sma l l ha nd f u l of “gem la kes.” During our training workshops, many volunteers often comment on the excellent clarity of Lake Aubu r n, wh ich is consistent ly “above average” when compared to other lakes throughout the state. For example, in 2010, the average water clarity for Lake Auburn was 7.3 meters (about 24 feet), which is very close to the historical average for the lake. The statewide average
for Maine lakes in 2010 was 5.6 meters (about 18 feet). We sometimes take for granted t he fact t hat, compared to t he rest of the country, Maine lakes are so clear. But they are under increasing pressure from a wide range of threats, the most pervasive of which is polluted runoff from watershed development. It’s no accident that Lake Auburn is sufficiently clear and clean to be used as a public water source. Conservation and stewardship are essential to maintaining the longterm health of our lakes and the resulting benefits that clean lakes provide for the public. Lake Auburn has protected this vital local source of drinking water thanks to strong public support. T h i s ye a r m a rk s t he V L M P ’s 40t h a n n iversa r y – a h istor ic m i lestone for cit i zen la ke monitoring in the U.S. Many of our volunteers have been active for multiple decades, which by today ’s sta nda rds of persona l commitment is truly remarkable. On July 30, we will celebrate the success of the organization and t he v olu nt e e r mon it or s w ho have made played such a key role i n keepi ng Ma i ne’s la kes a nd p ond s c le a r a nd c le a n . Our 40th anniversary conference w i l l t a ke plac e at T he Great Outdoors on Pleasa nt Pond in Turner. If you are interested in learning more about the V LMP,
Congratulations on your new facility. We’re proud to have served the cities of Lewiston and Auburn. 20 Years Family Owned & Operated
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18 L-A UV LIGHT WATER TREATMENT FACILITY
525 Woodman Hill Rd., Minot • 345-4671
or in becoming a volunteer lake mon itor, please contact us by phone at 207-783-7733, by email at V L MP@ma i nevl mp.org, or visit us online at mainevolunteerlakemonitors.org.
In conclusion By Richard Burnham, P.E. City Engineer, City of Lewiston The UV Facility in all its phases demonstrates how the Auburn Water District and the Lewiston Water Division can work together and save money while focusing on delivering you clean and efficient water. But this project does more than just add UV to our treatment stream. It has replaced and/or upgraded most of the existing facilities at Lake Auburn. Pumping and chemical feed systems are new and more reliable, and the same goes for automated equipment. A new laboratory will be build as part of the second phase of the project, replacing an existing obsolete lab and bringing the water quality team under one roof. Auburn has a large commercial and retail center and Lewiston has two major hospitals and many supporting medical facilities, which makes us a regional service utility. We provide clean water for some 200,000 people, be they visitors, patients, or residents. And don’t forget how often the fire protection designed into our systems protects lives and property. None of this is by accident. We’ve been doing longterm planning since the system came into being in 1878. Generally, we develop a new plan every 20 years and update it every five, projecting water quality and quantity needs. The plan addresses these issues with sequenced improvements and estimated costs. Along the way, we’ve called on Maine Drinking Water Program personnel, who provide valuable expertise.Planning will continue, factoring in changes to meet the Safe Drinking Water Act and any updates to the law, as well as our best judgment. As always, our prime concerns are your health and safety.
Advertising Supplement, Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Tuesday, June 7, 2011
UV facility construction on an accelerated track By Dan Bisson Design Engineer Camp Dresser & McKee To ma ximize potential funding a nd meet st rict schedu le requirements, the UV project was accelerated through an alternative delivery method of procurement ca lled Engineer Procured Const r uct ion Ma nagement. EPCM, prov ided by t he engineering firm Camp Dresser & McKee, is a form of “design-build,” in which, as the project design proceeds, several smaller design packages are competitively bid out. The process proceeds according to a cr it ica l pat h schedu le so t h at c on st r uc t ion c a n be g i n quickly. Design stays a step ahead of constr uction, but expedites the process while still allowing for compet it ive bids by loca l subcont ractors in t he va r ious construction trades. An overall projec t site ma ster pla n w a s developed and the project was broken into smaller, potentially sta nd-a lone components. T he project components were ranked by priorit y and designed to be phased in. The three phases are: 1. U V pr o c e s s , pu mpi n g a nd control equipment 2. Chemical facilities 3. L abor ator y, ad m i n i st r at ion a re a s, a nd oper at ion s a nd storage areas. Without the EPCM approach, the two cities would not have met the strict scheduling requirements of the federal stimulus money and secured the $2.3 million in grant and low rate funding. John Storer, super intendent of t he Aubur n Water District, said, “Securing the grant funding significantly reduced the impacts to the rate payers while a llow ing t he t wo utilities to construct joint facilities that will provide high quality safe drinking water to our customers for many decades.” Added Dav id Jones, Lew iston’s d i r e c t or of p u b l i c s e r v i c e s , “Working with the CDM team from planning through implementation of the EPCM process has been f law less. T he i n nov at ive fa st track approach allowed the two utilities to secure funding, which was critical to moving this project forward and complying with our regulatory requirements.” The project involves converting the Auburn high-lift pump station to a low-lift station to pump to the new UV facility. The design also made prov isions for the future
addition of filtration units, should add it iona l t reat ment ever be required.
• Hahnel Bros. Co., Lewiston
The following local or regional firms had a role in the new UV facility:
• New England Crane, Lewiston
• Acadia Contractors, LLC, Turner •C habot’s Construction Company, Greene • Cote Corporation, Auburn •D a mon Mecha nica l Ser v ices, Auburn • Dead River Company, Auburn •D o or Sy stem s C or p or at ion, Lewiston • Easy Rent-All Corp., Lewiston •E lectrical Systems of Maine, Inc., Auburn
• K & K Excavation, Inc., Turner
• Newman Concrete, Richmond •N ortheast Painting & Coatings, Inc. • Rent-It Of Maine, Inc., Auburn • Safe Approach Inc., Poland • Sebago Technics, Lewiston • St. Laurent & Son, Lewiston •S ummit Lewiston
Env ironmenta l,
• T Buck Construction, Auburn • T W Paving, Inc., Mechanic Falls • Triple A Coatings, Inc., Greene
UV: Why is it necessary? • U ltraviolet light is a highly effective disinfectant against biological pathogens. Potential pathogens in a water supply could include viruses, bacteria, and protozoa, which would pose a serious public health risk.
•C ryptosporidium parvum is known to infect humans. It can survive extended periods under harsh environmental conditions. At present there is no effective pharmaceutical therapy to treat cryptosporidiosis.
• V iruses are easily disinfected with chlorine. Potential viruses include polio and hepatitis. Bacteria is another biological pathogen, and could include E-coli.
•G iardia lamblia is the most common cause of human protozoan infection. Giardia infection, giardiasis, causes abdominal cramps, diarrhea, and bloating. Giardiasis is commonly referred to as “hiker’s disease” or “camp• Protozoa include pathogens such er’s disease.” as Cryptosporidium and Giardia. These are chlorine-resistant • T hanks to an effective wateroocysts or parasites that can shed control program, no Crypbe present in lake or river water tosporidium or Giardia have and can cause severe intestinal been detected in Lake Auburn distress if ingested. The young, over the last three years. The the old, and those with comgood news is that UV disinpromised immune systems are fection easily destroys these particularly at risk. pathogens, should they ever be detected.
• F. W. Webb Co., Lewiston
We congratulate The Auburn Water District and Lewiston Water Division on this outstanding new facility and continued vital public service to our combined community.
Thank You! Kraft Power Corporation is pleased to provide an integral component for always “Delivering Great Water” to Auburn and Lewiston communities.
Skelton Taintor & Abbott, proudly serving the Auburn District as legal counsel since 1986.
Power Generation Systems 95 Main Street Auburn, Maine 04210 www.sta-law.com • 207.784.3200
Advertising Supplement, Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Tuesday, June 7, 2011
www.kraftpower.com 800-969-6121 L-A UV LIGHT WATER TREATMENT FACILITY 19
Safe Reliable Water
L/A’s UV Water Treatment Facility Providing
• • • •
Lifeblood of the Lewiston/Auburn Business and Industrial Community The next chapter of our success in providing water to business and citizens of Lewiston and Auburn Cost effective to Auburn & Lewiston Water Rate Payers and Tax Payers Protection and Investment in the future of Lewiston and Auburn
Auburn Watershed District
Lewiston Water Division
www.awsd.org
www.ci.lewiston.me.us/
20 L-A UV LIGHT WATER TREATMENT FACILITY
Advertising Supplement, Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, Tuesday, June 7, 2011