Lake Auburn, without treatment, is the water supply for Lewiston and Auburn. But a zoning change passed by Auburn’s city council on March 21 might change that.
It would allow development along Gracelawn Road, where there is a gravel pit and an old dump. Wells drilled there 15 years ago showed water flowing south, but not since then has a hydro-geologic well been drilled.
There are many citizens who believe that the vote on the motion should have been postponed.
Auburn recently spent $100,000 for a consultation concerning the quality of Lake Auburn water. At a public meeting last year the consultant essentially said that Lake Auburn is on the verge of becoming undrinkable, and did not suggest any loosening of the current restrictions.
The city administration argues that since the proposed development on Gracelawn Road is not in the watershed, development there cannot hurt Lake Auburn. Many responsible citizens feel that more study is needed. New hydro-geologic wells should be drilled. The consultant should tell us what he thinks about this specific proposal.
That’s why people see the signs saying “Protect Lake Auburn.” People are concerned that Auburn is now on the verge of making a tremendous mistake by allowing development along Gracelawn Road, a situation that might be analogous to other Maine cities spreading municipal sludge on farms causing severe PFAS toxicity.
Polluting Lake Auburn, and the money it would take to clean it up, is not worth the property tax dollars that could be collected.
Judy Hierstein, Auburn
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