Fort Fairfield receives grant

    Rep. Jackie Lundeen, D-Mars Hill, announced July 28 that the towns of Bridgewater, Fort Fairfield and Mars Hill will receive grants totaling $24,000 from the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to fund local efforts to improve water quality through updates to failed septic systems that contaminate bodies of water.
    More than 50 towns received grant money to correct the discharges of sewage flowing into shellfishing areas, drinking water supplies or other bodies of water that might result in a public health risk.
     The DEP grants are part of the department’s Small Community Grant Program. The goal of the program is to improve water quality, protect public health and open shellfishing areas which are affected by wastewater discharges.  Approximately $1 million in funding was provided to the project from voter-approved bond issues. 
    “Cleaning up our water supplies is critical for public health and the economy,” said Lundeen. “In small farming towns such as ours, clean water is essential for drinking and agriculture.”
     Communities across Maine were informed that applications would be available for the Small Community Grant Program earlier this year, pending voter approval of the bond package. Towns applied for funding for existing septic system malfunctions on local properties, based on criteria created by the DEP.