Golden delivers $1.8 million for Castine Pump Station
WASHINGTON — Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) announced today that he has secured $1.8 million in funding to upgrade the Sea Street wastewater pump station in Castine.
The funding is part of the 2024 government funding package signed into law Saturday, and will be used for improvements to allow the station to accept increased volume of waste and build resiliency against sea level rise.
“The least expensive way to deal with emergencies is through prevention,” Golden said. “Castine’s Pump Station has already experienced close calls from flooding and the town is experiencing elevated demand for wastewater processing. This is a no-brainer investment for the community, and I’m glad it’s getting done before a major problem strikes.”
“Castine has one of the highest sewage rates in the State of Maine,” wrote Shawn Blodgett, Castine Town Manager, in March 2023. “This pump station is over 50 years old and is the most critical pump station in Castine’s sewage network as almost the entirety of village sewage flows through this facility. A typical sewage pump station has a life cycle of over 25 years… the need to replace the station is rational.”
This funding will be implemented during the first phase of a new project to protect the Town's Waterfront from sea level rise. While the pump station is currently at a safe level, a December 2022 storm showed the need to raise its elevation when the edge of the flood came within 50 feet of the station.
Additionally, an upgrade of the pump station is necessary for Castine to connect Maine Maritime Academy's new Maritime Administration National Security Multi-Mission Vessel to the town's sewer network. This project will help support Maine Maritime Academy and the state’s marine transportation, which provide infrastructure to support disaster relief missions in times of emergency.
The request on behalf of the Town of Castine 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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