Your Account Environment & Health Education Resources Infrastructure & Development News & Information About Us
Portland Water District - Portland, Maine
ENVIRONMENT & HEALTH
Tap Water
Watershed Protection
Water Treatment
Water Distribution
Cross Connections
Water Quality
Health Benefits
Sebago Lake
Lake Facts
Caring For The Lake
Lake Water Quality
Lake Level
Current Issues Facing Sebago Lake
Programs
Sebago Lake Land Reserve
History of Sebago Lake Protection
Wastewater
Treatment
Facilities
Quality Control
Biosolids
What you can do
FAQ
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 

Our Facilities

From Wastewater to Clean Water
Five Key Facilities Make it Happen

Portland Water District works 24 hours a day, 365 days a year keeping our region's water clean, safe and healthy. At this very moment, millions of gallons of wastewater are being recycled through PWD's five treatment facilities before flowing back into our environment clear and clean.

The following wastewater facilities are presently in operation serving the Portland Metropolitan area:

Portland, Maine's largest treatment facility
Westbrook/Gorham
Cape Elizabeth
Little Falls/South Windham
Peaks Island

 

Portland

Population Served: 60,000

Flow (millions of gallons per day):
Average: 19.8
Peak Flow: 80.0

Request a Tour

Portland Facility
 
The Portland wastewater facility actually produces two end products: millions of gallons of clean water, which flow in Casco Bay, and hundreds of tons of treated biosolids, which are trucked to Maine farms and spread on fields to condition the soil.

Portland's wastewater treatment facility is Maine's largest. Eleven pumping stations located around the city help to move wastewater to the facility. Since first opening in 1979, Portland's facility has been expanded and modified in order to handle more wastewater and provide additional protection to Casco Bay.

In fact, the Portland facility is key to protecting the entire Casco Bay watershed. Four million tons of septage from private septic systems in Naples, Casco, Bridgton, Yarmouth and others are received for treatment every year.

Yes, Maine's largest wastewater treatment facility is working efficiently and effectively to keep our water clean, safe and healthy. You can even see that for yourself, because right around the corner from the facility is Portland's East End Beach, which is once again safe for swimming and boating. And just on the other side of the Eastern Prom, Back Cove has become a popular place for exercise and recreation.


Westbrook/Gorham

Population Served: 17,000

Flow (millions of gallons per day):
Average: 4.54
Peak Flow: 15.7

Request a Tour

Westbrook Facility
 
The Portland Water District relies on wastewater treatment facilities in Westbrook to improve the quality of water in the Presumpscot River. We also advise and inspect businesses and manufacturers that could discharge industrial wastes into the River. Our goal, of course, is to make sure industries capture the waste they create before it poses a problem.

Just as the Portland Water District is committed to keeping Casco Bay as clean as possible, we're committed to keeping wastewater pollutants out of the Presumpscot River. Our facilities include 12 pumping stations which serve areas of Gorham and Westbrook. These stations collect wastewater and pump it to the Westbrook Wastewater Treatment Facility. Thanks to the efficiency and effectiveness of the Westbrook treatment system, the Presumpscot River is regaining its ecological health.


Cape Elizabeth

Population Served: 3,100

Flow (millions of gallons per day):
Average: 0.52
Peak Flow: 1.70

Request a Tour

Cape Elizabeth Facility
 
Sludge extracted from Cape Elizabeth's wastewater is trucked to Portland for dewatering and final treatment.

Because we live on the shores of one of Maine's most beautiful bays, wastewater treatment is a serious concern for communities of all sizes. Treating wastewater in Cape Elizabeth is just as important as treating the city of Portland's waste. That's why the Portland Water District designed and built a new facility in 1987, along with 11 pumping station, for the southern and central parts of Cape Elizabeth. (We collect wastewater from the northern part of town and pump it to South Portland for treatment.) Although each of PWD's five treatment facilities is slightly different, all accomplish the same task: cleaning waste from water that will be recycled into our environment.


Little Falls/South Windham - DECOMMISSIONED

Population Served: 600

Flow (millions of gallons per day):
Average: 0.040
Peak Flow: 0.08

Request a Tour

Little Falls/South Windham Facility
 
The Little Falls facility prevents wastewater discharges in the Presumpscot River.

With one pumping station in Gorham and two in Windham, the Little Falls facility is able to serve ecologically sensitive areas along the Presumpscot River. At one time, faulty private septic systems and direct discharges into the river resulted in dangerously high bacterial counts, which also contributed to contamination down river. The Little Falls facility has solved these problems. Biosolids from Little Falls are trucked to Westbrook for dewatering and treatment.


Peaks Island

Population Served: 500

Flow (millions of gallons per day):
Average: 0.20
Peak Flow: 0.61

Request a Tour

Peaks Island
 
The Peaks Island Wastewater Treatment Facility received three awards for engineering excellence, one from the Association of American Consulting Engineers and two from Consulting Engineers of Maine.

Treating wastewater on Peaks Island became easier and more efficient once the sanitary and storm sewers were separated. Wastewater is now confined to the sanitary system, and there is decreased risk of overflows occurring because of additional volume of water entering the system after heavy rains. With completion of sewers on Island Avenue and Welch Street and the addition of sewers at Torrington Point, overboard discharges of wastewater into Casco Bay will be practically eliminated. Nothing is more important on an island than clean water and a clean environment, and the PWD is doing its part to assure both on Peaks Island.