Water Main Replacement Projects
It Begins Beneath Your Street. Investing in Safe, Reliable Water.
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Scheduled Projects
In Progress
Portland
Brighton Ave
This project includes retirement and abandonment of around 2,800-ft of redundant undersized 6-inch cast iron water main with an extensive break history in Brighton Avenue in Portland. Services, hydrants, and water main connections that are connected to the existing 6-inch main will be moved to the existing 12-inch cast iron main on the opposite side of Brighton Avenue. This work is being completed in advance of paving by the State planned for 2028.
Chapman Street & Fisher Street
This project includes installation of around 1,000-ft of ductile iron water main ranging in size from 4-inch to 8-inch in Chapman and Fisher Streets in Portland. These new mains will replace undersized 2-inch galvanized (installed 1933), 2.25-inch cast iron (installed 1951-1967), and 8-inch ductile iron (installed 1985) mains in these roads that have an extensive leak history. Project Notification Door Hanger
Ocean Avenue & Irving Street
This project includes installation of around 1,100-ft of ductile iron water main ranging in size from 4-inch to 12-inch in Ocean Avenue and Sawyer Street in Portland. These new mains will replace 12-inch cast iron (installed 1911) and 6-inch cast iron (installed 1914-1917) mains in these roads.
South Portland
Broadway & Sawyer Street
This project includes installation of around 950-ft of ductile iron water mains ranging in size from 4-inch to 12-inch in Broadway, Sawyer Street, and Virginia Avenue in South Portland. These new mains will replace undersized 2.25-inch cast iron (installed 1952), 6-inch cast iron (1892), 8-inch cast iron (installed 1902-1904), and 12-inch cast iron (installed 1922-1931) mains in these roads, complete a 12-inch loop started in 2024 in Sawyer Street, and will be completed in advance of paving by the City planned for 2027. x
Westbrook
Pierce Street & Nasson Avenue
This project includes installation of around 2,380-ft of ductile iron water main ranging in size from 8-inch to 12-inch in Pierce Street and Nasson Avenue in Westbrook. The water main replacement includes installation of around 20-ft of 12-inch HDPE water main beneath an exempt railroad crossing in Pierce Street. This new main will replace undersized 6-inch cast iron (installed 1912-1963) and 8-inch cast iron (installed 1939) mains in these roads that have an extensive leak history and in advance of paving by the City planned for 2027.
Windham
Chute Road – River Road to Pope Road
The District will install roughly 13,500 feet of new 16-inch ductile iron water main in Chute Road from River Road to Pope Road. Project work will take place in 2025 and 2026.
Upcoming
Portland
David Road & Mayer Road
This water main renewal project, in partnership with the City of Portland’s sewer and storm separation and drainage improvement project, includes the installation of approximately 1,800 feet of 8-inch ductile iron water main along David Road and Mayer Road in Portland. The new main will replace undersized 2.25-inch cast iron water main installed in 1953 and 1958, as well as 6-inch cast iron water main installed in 1953 and 8-inch cast iron water main installed in 1958. The 2.5-inch cast iron main in these roads also has an extensive history of leaks.
South Portland
Galvanized Pipe Replacement – Phase 1
This project includes installation of around 1,000-ft of 4-inch ductile iron and 2-inch HDPE water mains in Beach Street, Myrtle Lane, Carver Boulevard, Skillings Street, and Skyline Road in South Portland. These new mains will replace undersized 2-inch galvanized (installed prior to 1930) mains in these roads.
Westbrook
County Road
This project includes installation of around 1,900-ft of 14-inch HDPE water main in County Road in Westbrook. This new main will replace 12-inch ductile iron (installed 1973) main in this road that has an extensive leak history.
Windham
Windham Center Road
PWD will replace roughly 1,700 feet of existing cast iron water main originally installed in 1969 in Windham Center Road with new ductile iron water main.
Complete
Portland
Hillcrest Avenue
This project includes installation of around 200-ft of 2-inch HDPE water main in Hillcrest Avenue in Portland. This new main will replace an undersized 2-inch galvanized main (installed 1912) in this road that has an extensive leak history.
Sandy Terrace
This project includes installation of around 600-ft of ductile iron water main ranging in size from 4-inch to 8-inch in Sandy Terrace in Portland. This new main will replace undersized 2.25-inch cast iron (installed 1953-1955) and 8-inch cast iron (installed 1963) mains in these roads that have an extensive leak history and in advance of paving by the City planned for 2027.
The Portland Water District has been serving Greater Portland communities with Sebago Lake water for more than 100 years and upgrading and maintaining the system since 1908. The Portland Water District invests roughly $8 million a year in water main renewals. Since 1985, reported leaks have been reduced due to the effectiveness of this program, even with the continued aging of existing water mains.
The District’s goal with the Water Main Replacement Program is to provide a reliable distribution system designed and maintained to enhance public health and safety. Water main replacement involves replacing existing water mains with new ones to improve water flow characteristics and to improve service to our customers.
Mains are identified for replacement according to numerous criteria, including:
- Partnering opportunities with municipal and MDOT road reconstruction and combined sewer overflow (CSO) projects
- Opportunities to improve water quality or address water quality concerns
- Leak frequency
- Aging infrastructure and/or outdated water main material
- Critical loop feeds (eliminating dead ends based on flow characteristics)
Main replacement projects are typically scheduled for construction between April and November.
If you would like more information on these or other water main renewal projects please contact the Asset Management and Planning Group at (207) 774-5961 ext. 3199.