Oct. 28, Boothbay Region Water District (BRWD) General Manager Weston Alley assured trustees that local water sources were still in good condition despite the county’s continuing D2 severe drought.  

Adams Pond has 181.3 million usable gallons, which is about 73% usable above the intake, versus last year’s 78%. “I’m not concerned. I’ve seen it significantly lower,” he said. 

If needed to preserve the water source for the winter, BRWD is still permitted to take another 10 million gallons from Knickerbocker Lake before it reaches the 51.5 million limit as set by the Department of Environmental Protection.

Alley said the water flow average from the week of Oct. 20 was 296,000 gallons, compared to last year’s 288,000. He said that water usage will continue to go down as seasonal mains are shut off.  

In other actions, the trustees unanimously approved the guidelines to receive the State Revolving Fund (SRF) portion of their filter waste recycling project.  

BRWD is undertaking a system-wide flushing program, moving water through pipes at high speeds to clear out sediments. Alley explained, while these residuals don’t come out in people’s water, they can build up over time and eventually shrink the inside of the pipe and restrict flow.  

Chairman Gerry Gamage also read out a “thank you” note from Brunswick-Topsham Water District for BRWD’s help with a Sept. 9 water main break on Station Avenue in Brunswick. The break required the replacement of 850 feet of failed water main, with some sections being 9 feet deep, in a congested area serving critical customers, according to the letter.  

It continued, “The size and scope of the break required the district to summon more resources and mutual aid than (in) our collective memory.” 

Alley added, BRWD received the call to assist at about 10 p.m. and was able to help get temporary water service running by 5 to 7 a.m. the next morning. “There's nobody that can put temporary water and pipe together faster than we can in the state, maybe the country.” 

BRWD’s Joppa Road water main replacement project will likely begin the first week of November. The district will also start drafting its 2026 budget in mid-November.