The city of Ellsworth, Maine, is planning to build a new water treatment plant and make other infrastructure upgrades that will improve water quality and system reliability for decades, according to city officials.
The project would replace the city’s aging treatment facility, which draws drinking water from Branch Lake and has struggled in recent years to consistently meet modern water quality standards. City officials say the plant is only part of the issue, noting that aging water mains and transmission lines throughout the system also contribute to reliability problems and water quality concerns.
Design work is underway, with the city working on planning, permitting and treatment technology selection. The new treatment plant would be built on the same site as the existing facility, allowing water service to continue during construction.
The roughly $20 million project would be paid for mostly with low-interest loans and grant funding rather than local property taxes. City officials say Ellsworth plans to rely heavily on the Maine Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, a state-run program that helps communities finance major water projects at below-market rates, along with other state and federal funding sources.
Those loans would be repaid beginning in 2028 through water rate increases phased in over several years. Instead of a single large increase, city staff have proposed to the finance committee a process of spreading rate hikes out as construction progresses and the new plant comes online. Staff suggest that the first increase would be 1.5%, followed by another 7% increase about six months later, with a possible repeat pattern. Any changes would require approval from the Maine Public Utilities Commission.
Construction is not expected to begin until at least fall of 2026, following final design, permitting and financing approvals. Once completed, the new facility is expected to provide Ellsworth with a more reliable water system capable of meeting regulatory requirements and supporting future growth.
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