Officials 'impressed' with MA sewer plant

OXFORD —  Town representatives report being impressed by a recent visit to two sewage treatment plants in Massachusetts similar to the one being considered for Oxford.

Town Manager Michael Chammings told the board of selectmen during its December 6 meeting that he was pleased to find the facilities did not give off unpleasant odors or noises.

"As far as ... sound and smell, there's virtually none there," Chammings said.

The group, which included Chammings, Selectman Scott Owens and Brent Bridges, a Vice President from Woodard and Curran – the engineering firm designing the Oxford plant – visited two facilities, one of an equivalent size of the proposed Oxford plant and another smaller facility.

According to Chammings, both facilities were self-contained, without external tanks or tubing.

"There's no tanks or anything, everything is underground inside the building ... the place is virtually spotless," Chammings told board members.

Chammings said the loudest part of the building was its back-up generators.

At the first facility the group visited there was only one contractor hired to supervise the facility who worked less than two hours a day, Chammings said.

The second system the group visited served an apartment building and was smaller, Chammings said. He reported that operators for both systems were very pleased with the systems.

The proposed Oxford plant will be the first of its kind used by a municipality in the state, but Chammings was confident other towns would start using them soon.

"It's quite a system," Chammings said. "I think they're going to become more prevalent in the state of Maine just because of the technology and the cost involved."

"I was very impressed with it."