Since its merger with Maine Water in December, the Biddeford & Saco Water Company ”“ now Maine Water Biddeford and Saco ”“ has named a new president, Judy Wallingford, who is working to inform the public about the water system and its needs, and get feedback on what the public would like to see going forward.
In a meeting with the Journal Tribune Editorial Board last week, Wallingford explained that the company has 240 miles of pipeline, much of which is aging and in need of replacement.
Customers, she said, are happy with their service and water, according a phone survey conducted in December of about 400 customers in the coverage area, which includes Biddeford, Saco, Old Orchard Beach and part of Scarborough. About 92 percent of those surveyed said they were satisfied with the service, and 90 percent said they acknowledge the need for infrastructure planning. However, only about 40 percent said they were willing to pay for those infrastructure needs.
The water treatment plant is original, built in 1883 and updated in the 1930s. In addition to the water line improvements, the treatment building will need work as well, and equipment that allows for more automation and better efficiency will also need to be installed in the future.
For now, Wallingford wants to know what customers want as far as replacement and upgrades to help plan for the future. The plan will have an impact on rates, but Wallingford said she wants residents to guide the process for that plan and set its pace.
For years, the company’s customers have had low rates ”“ one of the lowest in the state, according to Wallingford ”“ but that also meant a lot of work was put off. A rule of thumb in the industry is to replace about 1 percent of a system’s pipes per year, but in years past, only about a third of that was being done.
Most work was reactive in the event of a failure, which is much more costly than planning ahead. It typically costs six times more to fix pipes than to replace them proactively, Wallingford said.
One issue customers who were surveyed commented on was a desire for more communication from the company. To that end, the company will transition into providing more information to customers.
Also, an advisory committee is forming to work on a plan for the future. The committee will be reviewing a complete survey of the water system, which is currently being completed by two firms that have been hired to catalog all the pipes, including materials of which they are made and the dates they were installed.
Wallingford said no comprehensive catalog of the water company’s assets exists, that she could find, and this information will be important for the advisory committee and the public going forward. The information will allow the groups to make a plan to replace the system’s infrastructure and address the associated costs.
In addition to putting customers first, Maine Water is also a steward of the environment, Wallingford said. Preserving the Saco River and surrounding land is a priority for the company to ensure a healthy water supply for future generations, she said.
Wallingford said advisory committee meetings will be open to the public and she encourages customers with questions or comments to contact her at the water company.
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