Golden secures $1.5 million for wastewater upgrades for Rumford and Mexico

WASHINGTON — Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) announced today that he has secured $1.5 million for the Rumford-Mexico Sewerage Project, a comprehensive upgrade of wastewater infrastructure serving the two communities. The funding will help pay for a comprehensive upgrade of a 48-year-old wastewater treatment facility and the Dix Avenue Pump Station to prevent overflows of raw wastewater.  

“The current wastewater infrastructure serving Rumford and Mexico simply can’t meet the needs of the communities,” Golden said. “This investment will keep people healthier, the Androscoggin cleaner, and help deliver much-needed peace of mind for the region.” 

“The purpose of this project is to address critical deficiencies associated with the existing Wastewater Treatment Facility and pump station to ensure the continued, reliable sewer service,” wrote Stacy Carter and Raquel Welch-Day, the town managers of Rumford and Mexico, respectively, in March 2023 letters in support of the project. “These facilities have had very limited improvements during the 47 years they have been in service, and are critical infrastructure supporting the social, economic and environmental vitality of the region.”  

The Wastewater Treatment Facility was built in 1975 and is licensed to treat a monthly average flow of 2.65 million gallons per day (MGD). During the wet seasons, the average can get up to 3.26 MGD or spike hourly at over 7 MGD, which exceeds what the facility can process. In 2019, the existing wastewater facility failed, resulting in partially treated wastewater discharged directly into the Androscoggin River while emergency repairs were made. 

This project will ensure reliable and sustainable wastewater infrastructure in the region to protect the Swift and Androscoggin Rivers and provide predictable and economical costs for treatment for all sewer users. 

The request on behalf of the Rumford-Mexico Sewerage District was one of 15 awards from Golden’s Community Project Funding (CPF) requests approved as part of the appropriations package. His $26 million in successful CPF requests was the most of any Democrat in Congress.

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