letter to the editor

Re: Water pipeline

Mon, 10/18/2021 - 4:00pm

Dear Editor:

On Sept. 9, Bill Pearson wrote an excellent article on the Boothbay Region Water System’s long-range plan for a pipeline. I’d like to offer an alternative that might be worth of a feasibility study.

I have some education in hydrology and some experience operating a filtration system. I am a big fan of long-term water planning. In my opinion, the BRWD board, Jon Ziegra and Sue Mello have been doing a first-class job. The closing of water sources in East Boothbay, the building of the filtration plant, the establishment of the Knickerbocker Watershed, the extension of water to Southport, etc. were all forward-looking.

Knickerbocker Lake, Little Knickerbocker and West Harbor Pond are all the same man-made body of water. The water level between all three varies less than one inch. The problem has been the infiltration of salt water from the Gulf of Maine from under the road near the yacht club. This has caused West Harbor Pond to be brackish. In its day, the installation of the syphon was the best possible solution. But it has not been 100% effective. Today there is a membrane available that can be installed on the Gulf of Maine side and on the north side of the road that would stop the salt water inflow. It would be possible then to plumb West Harbor Pond to its lowest level and pump the saline water into the ocean. Water levels could be controlled by two manual valves and the use of gravity. In total, we might have as much as a thousand acre-feet of water (approximately 325,000 gallons/per acre). I think this whole project might cost $1 to $2 million. A pipeline would force the BRWD to purchase water from another agency. Since the 1970s, there has been a proposal to run a pipeline from Sebago Lake up the coast at least as far as Camden. Private enterprise has found this to be economically impossible.

As an aside, when we bought property on Knickerbocker Lake in 1976, the kids could waterski through the channel in Little Knickerbocker. The vegetation has been accreting and in 10 to 15 years, Little Knickerbocker will dry up. The Y Camp and the BRWD board should pay attention.

Brian McDonald

Boothbay