Main Replacement Projects

2012 Main Replacement Project

This year’s main replacement project will replace the remaining section of main on Cool Street installed in 1905 from Thrushwood Park to Merryfield Avenue. It also includes the replacement of the main on Bell Street and the installation of main on Eustis Parkway. The main on Bell Street was acquired in 1903 when the Kennebec Water District took over the rights to the water infrastructure in Waterville making it well over 100 years old. Also, a significant portion of the main lies outside of the public right of way making it a prime candidate for replacement. On Eustis Parkway there is a section of the road where water main was never installed which creates a dead end in the system. Dead ends can lead to water quality issues in some situations and in this particular situation has led to several main breaks over the years. The project went out to bid on April 11th 2012 and bids were opened on May 1st. The bids were as follows:

Nitram Excavation’s low bid of $520,069.00 was accepted on May 3rd by the Kennebec Water District Board of Trustees. They will be installing 1710 feet of water line on Cool Street, 550 feet of water line on Bell Street, and 615 feet of water line on Eustis Parkway. They are expected to begin construction some time in the month of June.

2011 Main Replacement Project

After suffering a series of main breaks on the Cool Street water main in 2010 the replacement of this main was moved to the top of KWD’s priority list for replacement in 2011. Not only is expensive to repair mains as they break but it can also leave many customers without water. Based on the condition of the pipe, which was installed in 1905, KWD staff had no reason to believe that the main breaks on Cool Street would stop. This is why the project finally went out to bid in May with the bids due on May 31st. The bids were as follows:

Manter Construction of Maine came in as the low bidder and their bid was accepted by the KWD Board of Trustees on June 2nd. The project involves replacing the existing 6 inch and 8 inch water mains on Cool Street from Western Avenue to Thrushwood Park in Waterville totaling 1565 feet of 12-inch ductile iron water main. The bid also includes 745 feet of 6-inch ductile iron water main replacing an existing 3 inch water line on Preble Hill Road in Vassalboro. This main is currently undersized, old and a portion of it is currently crossing private property. This main will be relocated to the public right of way.