Water newly available in Poland Springs

POLAND – Town Manager Dana Lee said that the owners of approximately 33 properties in town can now contact the Mechanic Falls Water Department to establish water service.

The Maine Department of Transportation building is the first connection to a new public water line beneath the road from the high school, south to the gravel pit.

“No one there has ever had the option of hooking into a public water system,” Lee said.

This summer, the Maine Department of Transportation rebuilt Route 26 from the intersection of Route 122 to Brown Road in the Poland Village. The Town of Poland awarded the contract to install new water lines along the one mile section from the high school to the gravel pit to the same contractor that is doing the state work, K and K Construction of Turner. The Town of Mechanic Falls will supply the water service.

“We have an operation and maintenance plan with the Auburn Water District for the south end of town because they operate and maintain the water and sewer line that goes to Poland Spring Bottling,” said Lee. “We also have an operation and maintenance plan with Mechanic Falls for the new water line and we’ve modernized that agreement to make it similar to what we have with Auburn.

“The document clarifies, for example, who is responsible to clear the fire hydrants that will be installed every 1,000 feet along that stretch of road after a heavy snow. Is it incumbent upon Mechanic Falls to clean the hydrants or is it incumbent on our fire department? And if Poland does it, should Mechanic Falls pay us? Or if there is a leak down the road, what is it their responsibility, what is our responsibility? Things like that.”

Poland installed the pipes due to a water quality and quantity issues and for fire protection in the downtown area. Also, officials hope to encourage economic development.

“When all is said and done, we will transfer everything over to the ownership of Mechanic Falls Water, and they're obligated to maintain that system for the rest of its natural life,” said Lee. “They will sell water and use the proceeds to run and maintain the system.”