The Boothbay Harbor Sewer District has released a public notice stating the Union Street pump station will be replaced and work begins on Wednesday, Oct. 11 or in the following few days. The project will occur in two, back-to-back stages in an effort to minimize impact on traffic patterns.

Sargent Corporation, which is working on Boothbay's roundabout, will do the work.

The first stage will take place from where Union Street meets Oak Street down past Smith Street to the first manhole just before Oak Street Provisions. The second stage will take place from the station site at the head of the harbor on Union Street, across Townsend Avenue to the top of the hill where Union Street meets Oak Street. Sewer District Superintendent Chris Higgins said the project must be substantially completed by March 31 and fully completed by May 18, but he does not think it will take nearly that long.

“The force main has to be done by the first week of November if everything goes well,” Higgins said. “They're going to be hustling out there before the hot top plant closes for the season.”

A bypass assembly consisting of two temporary pumps will be used while the old pumps are removed and the new ones are installed. A temporary force main will also be installed and will run from the pump station on Union Street to Oak Street terminating at the manhole just before Oak Street Provisions. The current force main is an eight-inch, cast iron line and will be replaced with an eight-inch PVC line.

“We decided to keep the force main the same size because there will be no additional need for major capacity,” said Higgins. “There will be two new 15 horsepower pumps installed which will be able to run 700 to 800 gallons per minute.”

“The station itself is submersible and will sit atop of the existing concrete pad rather than in a ‘can,’” which is extremely thin and leaking, Higgins said. The project requires an open dig, and the force main must be replaced because it is cracked in two places, “that we know of,” he said.

“That force main was installed in 1963 and is part of the original station. The typical design life is 20 to 25 years, so you do the math.”

Higgins noted that Boothbay Harbor currently has three of these “vintage” stations — one on Union Street, one on Atlantic Avenue and one at the head of Mill Cove Road.

The upside for maintenance is that there will be no more climbing into the ground to service the equipment. “Everything will be from topside,” said Higgins. “The generator stays and the pump station gets all new electronic controls.”

The lines on Oak Street, the first phase of work, will be first to be dug up and will likely take one week to complete.

“The lines are in the middle of the road, so we will have to divert traffic,” said Higgins. “Oak Street is going to be closed off at the bank, available to local residents only, and on-street parking will be closed, but we are still waiting for a final traffic plan from Sargent.

“They're talking about temporary traffic lights. I believe there will be some down toward Pear Street. Whether they do it or not — they might have to.”

Higgins acknowledged that despite the work being much needed, the project will be an inconvenience. “We are going to go door-to-door with fliers and try to keep everyone in the loop. In any case, it will be done way before the Festival of Lights. In the meantime, I think traffic will be mostly local residents and deliveries at this point in the season.”