Windham holds grand opening for sewage facility
North Windham Celebrates Launch of Maine’s First Large‑Scale Membrane Wastewater Plant
Windham, Maine – A ribbon was cut on Monday, Oct. 8, in a quiet ceremony that marked the official opening of the North Windham Wastewater Treatment Plant. The new facility, which began operating in August, represents the culmination of a project that began with a groundbreaking in 2021 and construction that started in 2023.
The event, attended by state Senator Susan Collins and local officials, saw Collins, standing third from the left, cut the ribbon that symbolized the plant’s readiness to serve the town’s wastewater needs. The plant sits just east of Manchester School, a location chosen to allow the new system to feed treated water into an advanced drip‑dispersal system under the school’s athletic fields.
From Septic to Sustainable
Until now, Windham has largely relied on individual septic systems. While sufficient for a small town, that setup has constrained growth and raised concerns about nitrate contamination in local aquifers. The new treatment plant was designed to address both environmental and economic objectives, offering the town a modern, reliable sewer infrastructure that can support future development.
“Seeing the plant finished is exciting,” said former Town Manager Barry Tibbetts, who guided much of the project’s early stages. “It will open up benefits for the community by allowing for additional business growth while also cleaning up local water sources. The water released by the plant is clean enough to drink.”
Cutting‑Edge MBR Technology
The North Windham plant uses membrane bioreactor (MBR) technology, the first of its kind in Maine to be applied at this scale. In an MBR system, microorganisms break down organic matter and nutrients before the water is forced through microscopic membranes that trap solids, bacteria and other contaminants. The result is a high‑quality effluent that can be safely discharged.
Portland Water District, the operator of the facility, emphasized the technology’s effectiveness. “In MBR technology, microorganisms break down organic matter and nutrients before the water passes through microscopic membrane pores that separate remaining solids, bacteria and other contaminants,” the district’s press release explained. “The result is high‑quality treated water that will be sent through an advanced drip dispersal system beneath the athletic fields at Manchester School.”
Capacity and Operations
The plant is designed to treat 160,000 gallons of wastewater per day and can be expanded to 320,000 gallons per day if needed. It is licensed to discharge up to 154,000 gallons of treated effluent daily. Operations will largely be automated, with a small crew on site for a few hours each weekday.
“The plant will operate largely autonomously, with operators working at the plant for a couple of hours on weekdays,” said a Portland Water District representative.
Financing a $50 Million Investment
Windham’s Town Council Chair Mark Morrison outlined the funding structure for the project. “According to the council, the project was funded with a mixture of $2 million from the federal government, around $3 million each from the town of Windham and Cumberland County, and $42 million from the clean water state revolving loan. The $50 million investment, he said, will lead to a projected $160 million in economic growth for the town.”
The investment also includes a connection between the new plant and the upcoming Windham Middle School, slated to open next school year. RSU 14 Superintendent Chris Howell noted that the new facility will allow the district’s older Windham Center Campus wastewater treatment plant, built in the 1960s, to be retired.
Looking Ahead
With the plant now up and running, Windham can expect fewer constraints on new housing and commercial projects, and a cleaner watershed. The city’s leaders anticipate that the modern system will attract businesses and residents alike, while providing a more reliable and environmentally sound sewer service.
As the ribbon falls, the town takes a step forward toward a more sustainable future, armed with technology that protects both the environment and the community’s growth prospects.
