Pictured here is Daniel Flagg (left), PE, engineering consultant for Wright-Pierce, and Rumford Water District Superintendent. John Halacy at a public hearing held October 17 in Rumford. Bruce Farrin/Rumford Falls timetable

RUMFORD — The Select Committee voted 3-1 in favor of an application for large-scale groundwater extraction by the Rumford Water District (RWD), during a public hearing held Oct. 17. Frank DiConzo voted against and Theresa Sax was absent.

At an earlier meeting on May 14, Eaton Peabody’s Andy Hamilton, senior counsel for the water district, said RWD proposed withdrawing and selling up to 75 million gallons per year of spring water to Blue Triton Brands, Inc., dba Poland. Spring Bottling Company.

The RWD property lies at the bottom of the 164.2 square mile Ellis River watershed. The entire watershed flows into the River Ellis which flows through Andover.

Hamilton said the Borehole #4 project is a single-well addition to an existing project that includes Drillholes 1 and 2, which have been in place since 2019. The original agreement between Poland Spring and the RWD has been in effect since approval from the PUC in June. of 2018.

Daniel Flagg, PE, engineering consultant for Wright-Pierce, said, “The groundwater extraction permit currently in effect in the Rumford Water District parallels the DEP permit.

Adding the No. 4 borehole at 75 million gallons per year to the existing one allowed 158 million gallons per year, which is the annual amount allowed since under the current 2017 operation.

The DEP has reviewed this data in detail and has confirmed that adding 75 million gallons per year sees no negative impact, provided the monitoring requirements that the DEP requires of the permit are met.

Matt Reynolds, an environmental hydrogeologist with Portland-based Drumlin Environmental LLC, added that the total volume of all water extracted represents 5 percent of the aquifer’s daily river flow.

City Manager George O’Keefe said RWD is proposing to change the capacity and amount of water Poland Spring can purchase from them. “Poland Springs does not have water rights. They have the possibility to buy water.

He added that the amount drawn will increase from 158 million gallons to 233 million gallons, and that is the maximum. O’Keefe said the approximate annual total withdrawn is less than what is allowed.

O’Keefe said the public needs to understand that the permit is being complied with and that there are no concerns or regulatory issues regarding the amount of water being withdrawn.

Resident Brie Weisman of Rumford asked if Rumford gets a value for the price the water district sets for water.

O’Keefe replied, “I think so.” Some people would say we should get more money and try to get a stronger economic deal with the company, and that’s in the hands of the water district administrators and I think they’re doing it in a very effective.

He noted that until Poland Spring entered into a purchase and sale agreement with the Rumford Water District, “our water department here was financially insolvent.”

Superintendent RWD. John Halacy said on May 14 that between April 2019 and today, the lease rent was $12,000 per month and the total they have received to date is $775,298. Additionally, Poland Spring made a $160,000 capital contribution to the booster station installed by RWD atop Falls Hill.

He said, “To date, all of these projects, including the water purchase, have provided more than $1.67 million to the district to stabilize our water rates for our customers, and have made improvements substantial in terms of cash flow without the need to increase prices to subscribe. loans and pay interest.

Halacy said RWD has not increased its water rates since 2010.

The district was able to invest in its system, including making the necessary replacement of sections of water main that had existed since the early 1900s.

Halacy added, “We were able to fund $1,282,532 in repairs – water main replacement, a new booster station, a new well at Scotty’s – all of that work was paid for out of pocket with that revenue… Otherwise, we would have had to take out loans, pay interest and further rate increases. None were necessary.

O’Keefe emphasized, “Our water resource is owned by us, through the Rumford Water District, and will continue to be owned by us. I will never support any project that would deprive us of water resources, in a sense of ownership.

He said the regulatory environment for this particular type of economic activity is quite strong. “In fact, I believe that groundwater extraction in Maine is probably better protected here than anywhere else in the country. There are two reasons for this. First, the Maine DEP is actually a very strong environmental regulator. The second reason is local control. And that differs from some places where groundwater extraction can take place on state or federal lands, or on tribal lands.

O’Keefe said the relationship between Poland Spring and the county is very controlled, in most cases, by the local council or local government. “It makes the relationship very different and we are able to hold public hearings like this. Because this activity is carefully regulated and protected, I am confident that it is in the public interest. I think you all should know that. It’s my job to protect the public interest. It’s not my job to work for big companies or for their economic benefit.”

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