Following three towns voting yes on November 6 during the election, Southport Water District was decisively absorbed into the Boothbay Region Water District. The initiative had to pass in Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor and Southport; if one town rejected the merger the plan would have been shelved.

The inclusion means Southport's Water District and its assets will be acquired by the Boothbay Region Water District, which currently includes Boothbay and Boothbay Harbor.

Southport passed the question 286-139, Boothbay approved it 1,593-402 and Boothbay Harbor passed it by a mark of 1,109 to 246.

One of the main reasons behind the merger is to boost fire safety on the island. Currently Southport only has two fire hydrants.

At an October 10 meeting to discuss the merger Southport Selectman Gerry Gamage said the main reason behind the merger was to boost the island's fire protection. The availability of drinkable water was just a side benefit of the merger, Gamage said at the meeting.

The Boothbay Region Water District will assume control of the Southport Water District in the near future but not before Southport makes improvements to the island.

The town selectmen green-lighted a $450,000 project to install a water main on Cross Road. The town awarded a $244,000 conditional bid to Boothbay's NA Reny Construction for the project, with another $209,000 earmarked for materials.

Southport residents will have the option to buy into drinking water from the Boothbay Region Water District. Homeowners who do not wish to buy into the district will not have to.

Had the initiative failed Southport would have resumed control of its water district.

Ben Bulkeley can be reached at 844-0711 or bbulkeley@boothbayregister.com. Follow him on Twitter: @BBRegisterBen.