Berwick, Maine, Residents Asked to Limit Water Use

💧 A "temporary mechanical issue" was the cause of a lower than normal water level in the storage tank

💧 "There are no issues with the quality of the water," according to the town

💧 Central Maine Water took over operations of the Berwick Water Company in January

Berwick Water customers were asked Friday night to limit their water use.

The message from Central Maine Water, the new operator of the town's water company, said a "temporary mechanical issue" was the cause of a lower than normal water level in the storage tank, according to a message from the town. As a result, water pressure is low for "certain areas of the system,"

"There are no issues with the quality of the water," the message stated.

No timetable was given for when repairs would be complete or if Saturday's snowstorm would have an impact.

New Water Company Operator

The company and the town contracted on January 10 to take over the day-to-day operations and maintenance of the Town of Berwick's water system, including the treatment facility, all water mains, and billing.

The select board at its January 10 meeting said during a public comment section about the contract that the Berwick Water Company had faced "challenges" with its operations and staffing. It has been using an interim water operator from the York Water Company over the past few months.

The new contact itself will not increase rates for customers. However a water rate increase that was approved in April will still take effect on July 1, according to the town.

The town still legally owns the system which pumps 150,000 gallons of water per day to 2,500 residents per day.

A planned upgrade to the water treatment plant will still go forward as scheduled. Water quality came to a head during the summer when high levels of manganese caused discoloration of the water. Manganese can cause stains in laundry, scaling in plumbing, and give it a bad smell or taste.

Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com or via Twitter @DanAlexanderNH