U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, has announced she advanced $40,433,000 in Congressionally directed spending for wastewater development projects throughout Maine in the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations bill, including $5 million for Wiscasset wastewater infrastructure improvements, according to a press release July 27.

The bill, which was officially approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee July 27, now awaits consideration by the full Senate and House.  

Responding to email questions, Town Manager Dennis Simmons explained, “The town, with the assistance of Olver Associates, submitted a Congressionally directed spending request for $5 million to provide funds for improvements to the collection system of the wastewater plant. These funds will be used to upgrade and improve the pump stations and the infrastructure that feeds them. This will also allow us to decrease the amount of unnecessary stormwater entering the system and make it more efficient.

“These are long overdue improvements and we thank Senator Collins for her support and her understanding of the importance of these necessary improvements,” Simmons said.

“Wastewater facilities play an important role in the health, economic success, and environmental sustainability of rural towns throughout Maine,” said Sen. Collins in the release.  “This funding would support critical updates to wastewater systems across the State, helping communities thrive for years to come.  As the Vice Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, I will continue to advocate for this funding as the appropriations process moves forward.”