Adams Pond and Knickerbocker Lake provide for the public drinking water and fire protection needs of Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor and Southport. Between December 1, 2014 and November 30, 2015, the Boothbay Region Water District withdrew just under 190 million gallons of water from Adams Pond and Knickerbocker Lake to meet the public need for potable water.

Water withdrawal, precipitation and Knickerbocker Lake water level data for this time period are summarized in the BRWD’s annual report to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, completed on December 28, 2015.

Generally, the Boothbay region’s peak water demand occurs during the summer tourist season and 2015 was no different. Water demand topped at just shy of 1.2 million gallons per day in mid-August. Adams Pond contributed the lion’s share (144,016,200 gallons) of the region’s public potable water during the twelve month reporting period, while 45,023,100 gallons (24 percent of the total) were supplied by Knickerbocker Lake. Water was withdrawn from Knickerbocker Lake exclusively between July 6 and August 30. During the other ten months of the reporting year, Adams Pond was the sole water source.

Although Knickerbocker Lake’s contribution to the overall public water supply is small compared to Adams Pond, it plays a crucial role.

“We withdraw from Knickerbocker Lake during the peak summer demand season to give Adams Pond a chance to recover and to avoid a negative drawdown of Adams,” District Manager Jon Ziegra said, “Without Knickerbocker Lake, the health of Adams Pond might be compromised, particularly in a drought year.”

The water district monitors the water quality of both lakes, as well as lake levels and precipitation. The period of December 2014-December 2015 was drier than average, with all but two months, June and September, below normal precipitation levels. Precipitation over the twelve month period totaled 73 percent of the annual average.

The annual withdrawal report can be found on BRWD’s website, www.bbrwd.org. Once on the website, select “Trustees and Staff” and choose “2015 Knickerbocker Lake Usage Report.”