February 25, 2025 – AUGUSTA, Maine – In the largest legislative gathering of the year for Maine’s water industry, Maine Water Environment Association (MeWEA), the trade association for clean water professionals and Maine Water Utilities Association, the association for the drinking water industry, gathered at the annual “Waffles and Water” legislative breakfast in Augusta today. Nearly 100 industry professionals and lawmakers from the 132nd Legislature attended the event to review the highest priority opportunities and challenges before Maine’s water industry in 2025.
The top three challenges for Maine’s wastewater industry in 2025 include: inadequate funding to address the 2021 PFAS mandate, Maine’s lacking waste management plan, and significant infrastructure threats
related to both climate change and aging, inadequate systems. For Maine’s drinking water industry, the top challenges include aging infrastructure, PFAS related cost increases, and protection of public water rights.
According to the Maine DEP, there were $392M in infrastructure funding requests from water utilities in 2024 – only $63M (14-percent) were funded. In 2025, DEP says there are even more requests and even less funding, with only $56M available. The water industry today raised awareness for the significant and unmet need for infrastructure investment, which will ultimately protect Maine’s environment, water bodies and drinking water sources.
“While Maine’s PFAS legislation sets the highest national standard, it remains an unfunded mandate and water utilities across Maine have silently carried that burden,” said Emily Cole-Prescott, past President of MeWEA. Water utilities have faced annual cost increases for biosolid disposal, and grapple daily with capacity issues at Maine’s only state-owned landfill, Juniper Ridge. In 2024, Maine’s DEP recommended landfill capacity be expanded to avoid another biosolid crisis – but that recommendation is being appealed. “The state needs to define a holistic waste management plan to rely less on landfilling and more on investment in technology to safely dispose of biosolids, which has been a challenge,” Cole-Prescott added.
Earlier this month, Maine’s Department of Environmental Protection proposed a $50 million bond to help invest in innovative technology to reduce the volume of biosolids. Sponsored by Maine State Senator Stacy Brenner (D – Cumberland), LD 25, would partially alleviate the financial burden being carried by Maine’s wastewater industry, which has over $3.1B in unmet and unfunded infrastructure needs.
“LD 25 is a step in the right direction to begin addressing procedural challenges and cost increases delivered by Maine’s PFAS legislation,” said Theresa Tucker, Compliance Manager, York Sewer District and MeWEA President. “We must consider investing in our water infrastructure so we can continue protecting Maine’s drinking water resources, environment and water bodies. Maine’s water industry has faced inadequate funding levels for many years, and ratepayers cannot bear the burden alone,” said Tucker.
“This bond is a necessary investment to help municipalities and unorganized townships manage the complex challenges of biosolid disposal. Investing in improved biosolid management helps preserve critical landfill space and creates a more level playing field for treatment districts, ensuring that all communities—regardless of size or resources—have access to safe, effective wastewater solutions,” said LD 25 sponsor and Maine State Senator Stacy Brenner (D-Cumberland). “Supporting this bond is about safeguarding Maine’s natural resources and ensuring a resilient future for the people who depend on them,” Brenner added.
Since its founding nearly 100 years ago, MWUA has been Maine’s leading advocate for drinking water utilities. Today, MWUA represents 86 utilities and 60 associate members, collectively serving over 700,000 Maine residents, thousands of Maine businesses and public institutions, and millions of Maine visitors each year. At today’s legislative event, MWUA urged policymakers to engage with local water utilities, advocate for infrastructure investment, and support science-based regulation that balances public health with practical implementation.
“Water districts face growing challenges, including aging infrastructure, PFAS contamination, and critical funding needs. Many water systems rely on infrastructure over a century old that requires substantial investment to maintain service reliability,” Nicki Pellenz, Executive Director, MWUA. “As Maine leads in PFAS regulation, utilities bear significant financial burdens to meet new treatment requirements,” Pellenz added.
If approved by two-thirds of Maine’s legislators, the $50M bond would be placed on the 2025 ballot for voters to approve. For a link to the February 25, 2025 presentation to Maine’s Legislature, please visit here.
