While work has temporarily ceased on a major portion of the Southport water project, the Boothbay Region Water District is pursuing a new plan to lay a water main farther north across Townsend Gut waterway to avoid further entanglement with FairPoint Communications.

The water district’s board of trustees met with the district manager Jon Ziegra on Feb. 24 to discuss how to proceed.

“In our view, FairPoint did not identify current conditions when approving the district’s plan in paper. That was in early 2014,” Ziegra said. “Likewise, FairPoint maintains the district did not complete due diligence in ascertaining the current conditions on a northern route in Townsend Gut.” 

FairPoint first indicated on Feb. 10 that it was not responsible for identifying the telecommunication cables that connect Boothbay Harbor to Southport below the waterline of Townsend Gut, Ziegra said.

The project was subsequently postponed. As a result, the water district hired local marine contractor Chuck Fuller to locate FairPoint’s cables. Fuller found six cables, one of which is located in FairPoint’s right of way. The other five were located considerably north. FairPoint will not confirm which lines are active, Ziegra said, and the construction contractor will not proceed because of liability issues. 

The water district will now consult with the Army Corps of Engineers and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to determine whether a longer water main can be built farther north, out of the way of FairPoint’s cables.

Although the alternative plan will likely require more time and material costs, the Southport water project could be back on track shortly. By the next trustees’ meeting on March 10, the water district will have a much clearer picture, Ziegra said. 

As of Feb. 24, the Boothbay Region Water District is pursuing no legal action with FairPoint Communications, Ziegra said.