RUMFORD — The Board of Selectmen voted 4-0 Thursday evening to approve an application for a permit for large-scale water extraction.
The Rumford Water District will be allowed to draw up to 650,000 gallons per day, instead of up to 588,700 gallons per day, from two district wells.
“The project will be owned and operated by the Rumford Water District, and it will be sold to Poland Spring (Water Co.) under a contract signed last August, district Superintendent Brian Gagnon said.
The district will continue to monitor the health of the aquifer and manage and sustain it. It will also curtail or stop the flows to Poland Spring if the district can’t serve other customers, or the aquifer is being harmed, he said.
“We have that authority under the contract,” Gagnon said.
“We are excited about this project,” he said. “It brings a new company to town and they will be a good neighbor. The project will be beneficial for the district with the revenue dedicated to the main replacement work. And it will also be beneficial to the town with the community benefit program that was negotiated for.”
The board’s decision followed a public hearing attended by a few residents.
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