Water Meter Replacement Project Expands to Cumberland and Falmouth

The Portland Water District is completing its meter replacement pilot in Gorham, where installations have progressed smoothly and as planned. The project will now expand to Cumberland and Falmouth.

Customers in upcoming service areas will receive a letter in the mail with instructions on how to schedule their meter replacement appointment. Appointments are scheduled directly by the customer, allowing them to select a date and time that is most convenient.

This project is a key step in modernizing our system and improving service reliability and accuracy for our customers. We appreciate the cooperation of our communities as this important work continues.

A Severe Flu Season

How Wastewater Data is Helping Track it.

The 2025–2026 flu season is shaping up to be one of the most intense in recent years. As of mid-January, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports high or very high flu activity across much of the country, and as flu season peaks here in Maine, wastewater data is helping health officials monitor and track infection trends across our communities.

Portland Water District participates in WastewaterSCAN, a nationwide program that uses wastewater surveillance to monitor infectious diseases like influenza, RSV, COVID-19, and norovirus. Each week, PWD collects samples and ships them off to be analyzed, recorded, and made available to health officials and the public.

Unless Something Goes Terribly Wrong

Watch the trailer of our wastewater documentary below

Unless Something Goes Terribly Wrong premiered on September 13 at the Camden International Film Festival to a packed theater, earning a standing ovation and the Audience Award. Filmed over two years at the East End Wastewater Treatment Facility, the documentary provides an honest, human perspective on the operators who keep essential systems running, while also highlighting the challenges of aging infrastructure and delayed investment.

The film has received multiple accolades at film festivals and continues to generate strong interest nationwide. Several news outlets have covered the film and screenings are scheduled across New England, New York, and California. The full screening schedule is available on the Portland Water District website, with an upcoming opportunity to see the film locally on January 25, February and March 5.

Water Bottle Filling Station Grants

We’re excited to recognize Children’s Odyssey, Cumberland Fairgrounds, Cumberland Police Department, Developers Collaborative, SPACE, and The Point Community Center for helping expand access to clean, refreshing tap water across our community.

Portland Water District’s source, Sebago Lake, is pristine and clear, and we’re proud to provide some of the best drinking water in the country. Sharing that water has long been part of our history. Decades ago, travelers arriving at Union Station were welcomed with a free cup of Portland’s tap water. Our Water Bottle Filling Station Grant carries that tradition forward, helping more people refill, rehydrate, and choose tap water wherever they go.

Thank you to our 2025 recipients for being strong partners in sustainability, public health, and community access. We can’t wait to see these filling stations in action.

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225 Douglass Street, PO BOX 3553, Portland, ME 04104