O & M Newsletter headerEnviroNews banner: forest stream, lake cottage, landfill construction, autumn field, winter lakefront
*JANUARY 2026*

In this issue:

* $50,000,000 Water Quality Bond to be Considered in Upcoming Legislative Session. [ #link_1 ]
* Landfill Leachate – PL 2025, Ch. 172 An Act to Protect Groundwater and Surface Waters from Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances from Landfill Leachate. [ #link_1389912066563 ]
* No-Cost Cybersecurity Vulnerability Assessments for POTWs. [ #link_1389912068132 ]
* Cold Weather Operations – Part 2. [ #link_1389912070779 ]
* Lab Notes: Quality Control (QC) Requirements for Compliance pH Testing. [ #link_4 ]
* What are some of the results of regulatory program enforcement? [ #link_3 ]
* Certification and Training Highlights. [ #link_2 ]
* For Practice. [ #link_1389912072571 ]

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$50,000,000 Water Quality Bond to be Considered in Upcoming Legislative Session.

A drop of water in the water

As noted in previous O&M articles, in the 2025 legislative session, the Department of Environmental Protection submitted a Department bill for a $50,000,000 bond that would provide grants to publicly owned treatment works for infrastructure projects facilitating proper management and disposal of wastewater sludge or biosolids, such as dryer and digestor projects.  The bill is LD 25, "An Act to Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue to Fund Wastewater Treatment Facility Planning and Construction of Infrastructure Projects.  "The intent of the bill is to address concerns with state sludge disposal capacity.  [link removed]

A public hearing on LD 25 was held on April 10, 2025, by the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee.  27 written comments in support of the bill were submitted.  There was no testimony in opposition.

Unfortunately, the legislature adjourned the first session without voting on any of the 20 general fund bonds that were introduced.  All of the bond proposals, including LD 25, were carried over to the upcoming legislative second session starting in January 2026.  (This is the “short session” that is typically limited to emergency legislation and bills carried over from the first session).  The second session of the 132nd Maine Legislature will convene January 7, 2026, and the statutory adjournment date is April 15, 2026.

LD 25 is an important aspect of addressing sludge disposal concerns.  I encourage you to track the progress of this bill and engage with your wastewater associations on how you can participate in the process.  Testimony can still be submitted via the legislative web page here: [link removed]

Additional information will be provided once the second legislative session convenes.

Questions on this issue should be directed to Brian Kavanah, Director, Bureau of Water Quality, [email protected] , 530-0293.



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Landfill Leachate – PL 2025, Ch. 172 An Act to Protect Groundwater and Surface Waters from Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances from Landfill Leachate.

A new law was passed by the Maine legislature in 2025 that requires all wastewater dischargers that accept or generate solid waste landfill leachate that is discharged to waters of the state to maintain records regarding the leachate and to report this information to the Department annually. To view the new statute language, visit: [link removed]

Recently the Department notified all wastewater discharges that we believe may be subject to the new Maine law and provided them with a reporting form.

If you currently accept or generate solid waste landfill leachate for discharge, and you have not received a reporting form, please contact us as noted below and we will provide you with the information you need.

Brett Goodrich, BWQ,  [email protected], 207-287-9034.

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No-Cost Cybersecurity Vulnerability Assessments for POTWs.

Cyber-attacks against water and wastewater infrastructure across the country are increasing. Even small municipalities are being targeted. Is your plant ready for a cyber incident that could take out your SCADA system and jeopardize plant operations?

A valuable tool for evaluating the cyber hygiene of your facility plant is to conduct a vulnerability assessment. A vulnerability assessment is a systematic examination to determine the adequacy of security and privacy measures by identifying security holes that may be exploited on a computer or network. Several No-Cost options exist for municipal wastewater facilities to participate in Cyber assessments by trained professionals:


* *_Maine National Guard (MENG)_* is providing free vulnerability assessments to POTWs. Please contact [email protected] if you would like to participate.
* *_National Rural Water Association (NRWA) _*is joining forces with the Cyber Policy Initiative (CPI) to offer a first-of-its-kind, completely free cyber volunteer taskforce to assist small and rural water & wastewater communities in protecting critical infrastructure, The initiative is named the "Project Franklin, "in honor of US founding father Benjamin Franklin. To learn more about the program, contact Aaron Gaylord [email protected] and John DeGour [email protected].
* *_EPA’s Water Sector Cybersecurity Evaluation Program._* EPA offers free assessments to public drinking water plants (DWP) and wastewater facilities. The evaluation provides the assessed utility with a risk mitigation template to help understand discovered cybersecurity vulnerabilities and provide guidance on enhancing overall cybersecurity posture. Click Here [ [link removed] ] for more information on EPA’s vulnerability assessment program.__

Assessments are completely voluntary and confidential with no information shared with regulatory authorities.

You can also sign up for free vulnerability scanning for water and wastewater utilities offered by EPA. More information can be found at Free Cyber Vulnerability Scanning for Water Utilities [ [link removed] ].

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Cold Weather Operations – Part 2.

photo of icicles

Limited daylight presents safety issues to wastewater operations. Many parts of Maine receive only 9 hours of daylight in the early winter. The sunlight intensity is much less in winter due to the low angle of the sun in the winter sky. These short day lengths and low intensity limit the outdoor workday, as well as making indoor work more difficult. These factors make proper lighting even more important during the winter months.

Lighting should be checked in all work areas. Clean fixtures and replace bulbs regularly. Add fixtures in inadequately lit areas. Have portable work lighting available for emergency work. Consider using headlamps for task lighting a good idea. You may need to increase work lighting both outside and indoors.

Limited light that can affect workers is called Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D.). The decrease in sunlight can disrupt our body's internal clock and, in some cases, lead to fatigue, depression, or social withdrawal. Light therapy can help, as well as taking steps throughout the year to keep your mood and motivation steady.

Winter operations at wastewater facilities are difficult, uncomfortable and sometimes hazardous. That is why it is prudent to plan ahead to recognize hazards and minimize risks. These include slip, trips and falls, hypothermia and exposure, overexertion and dehydration. And falling ice and snow.

Slips and falls are the #1 injury. We work where there is water and cold temperatures, which means lots of ice. Operators must be responsible for their own safety and minimize the risks. Slips into tanks or lagoons in winter can be fatal. Snow and ice tracked indoors will melt and create a slip hazard. Provide non-slip mats at entrances and mop up regularly.

Some tips to preventing slips and falls include keep steps and walkways free of snow and ice, improve traction with gravel or sand, provide good drainage, direct melt water away to avoid icing, remove snow from roof with roof rakes, if possible, wear ice creepers when working on icy surfaces, and remember to use handrails!

Take your time and work and move slowly. We all tend to cut corners when working in uncomfortable conditions. Don’t rush work. Working in heavy PPE in cold conditions is slow. Allow plenty of time for the job, take breaks to warm up and rest, and most importantly recognize your limits.

Driving in winter weather requires constant attention to watch for changing conditions. Slow down!

Winterize vehicles, batteries, tires, wipers, windshield washing fluid and antifreeze. Secure loads so they don’t become trajectories if you end up in the ditch. 

We think more about overexertion and dehydration in the summer, but they can occur in the winter as well. Operators performing strenuous tasks such as snow shoveling or even walking through deep snow, can cause overexertion, muscle strains and even heart attacks. It’s easy to become dehydrated in cold weather. Remember to work slowly, take breaks, and drink warm liquids, (while avoiding caffeine).



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Lab Notes: Quality Control (QC) Requirements for Compliance pH Testing.

This article will give a brief overview of the most important quality control (QC) steps to incorporate as routine practice at labs performing compliance testing for pH in wastewater effluent. Performing the proper QC procedures is important to ensure that you are generating accurate and defensible data.

For compliance pH testing, the following are minimum required QC procedures that must be performed and documented:


* Calibrate pH meter each day that pH is measured for compliance reporting. Calibration must be performed before samples are analyzed using at least 2 buffers that bracket the expected sample results. Record the slope information and confirm it is the acceptable range per manufacturer’s manual.
* Conduct a buffer check, and record result, for each sampling event.
* At least once per year analyze a blind proficiency sample (DMR-QA study satisfies this requirement).

In addition to the above list of pH specific requirements, all analytical methods require documentation of the following:


* Sample Location/ Date/ Time/ Name of person collecting the sample.
* Sample type (pH is a grab sample).
* Date/ Time/ Name of person that performed the analysis.
* Name of approved method that was used to analyze the sample.

If you have questions about quality control requirements for tests performed at your laboratory, contact your compliance inspector or DEP technical assistance at [email protected].

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What are some of the results of regulatory program enforcement?

In a study conducted by Zack Raff and Dietrich Earnhart titled “Use of environmental equipment and personnel to manage wastewater: Insight from responses to regulatory enforcement,” Raff and Earnhart evaluated the use of environmental equipment and personnel to manage wastewater as a response to regulatory enforcement to establish how enforcement at the state and federal level impacted necessary changes to achieve or improve compliance. The costly addition of environmental equipment is a long-term solution often offered in response to enforcement actions, but Raff and Earnhart suggest that long and short-term benefits are created by increasing staffing that also provide the ability to create a “complementary” management tool with more immediate results. 

The states and EPA complete inspections to monitor regulatory compliance, to assist with compliance, and occasionally to gather evidence for future enforcement proceedings.  Raff and Earnhart evaluated previously conducted enforcement outcomes across the United States, and they discovered that the amount of discretion allotted to monitoring and enforcement varied both between states and between EPA regions.  They also found clear evidence that regulatory attention increased investment in compliance personnel and equipment but that the type of scrutiny, more informal inspections vs. formal penalty or court actions, also influenced the type of investment.  In general, they found that states tended to focus on long-term, gradual changes while EPA monitoring and enforcement tended to result in shorter term, significant equipment investment.

Raff and Earnhart described labor/personnel as being adjustable within long and short runs, and capital equipment as adjustable only within the long run, reflecting that facilities can hire employees more quickly than installing new equipment. However, when additional personnel were hired, a “complementary” response allowed for benefits both within the short and long term. 

A facilities response regarding formal enforcement actions often placed greater importance on equipment over personnel, creating increased timelines and costs. Interestingly, regulatory scrutiny improved personnel outcomes of facility employees by increasing the number of personnel at facilities allowing facilities to utilize both personnel and equipment together for environmental management, offering the ability of short-term improvements while working towards long term goals.

From the regulatory side, more formal actions resulted in greater immediate compliance, but informal actions like inspections, and technical assistance resulted in improved long-term compliance.

Source: Raff, Z., & Earnhart, D. (2025). Use of environmental equipment and personnel to manage wastewater: Insight from responses to regulatory enforcement. "Water Resources and Economics", "52", Article 100270. [link removed] [ [link removed] ]

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Certification and Training Highlights.

*March 1, 2026 Renewal Deadline for Even-Numbered Operator Certifications*

If your certification ends in an even number, you will need to renew your certification by March 1, 2026 in order to maintain Active status. You can renew online with a credit card at Maine Wastewater Operator Renewals • NEIWPCC [ [link removed] ], which includes the following:


* Providing documentation of the required 18 Training Contact Hours (TCHs).
* Paying the renewal fee (currently $125).
* Updating contact information, including email address.

Timely renewal of operator certification is very important!. Failure to renew on time makes the certificate inactive, increases the cost of renewal, and may lead to other complications.

If you are uncertain whether you still need contact hours for renewal, please visit [link removed] [ [link removed] ]. Scroll down to Training Summary Report and select the blue tab labeled "View TCH Summary" to access the report.

Contact Aiden Mabey, [email protected] or call 207-253-8020 with questions.

*JETCC’s Wastewater Operator School (WOS) begins January 2026*

This six-month, 12-session program is designed to give in-depth training to entry-level operators and others seeking to increase their understanding of biological wastewater treatment concepts. The program includes demonstrations, treatment plant tours, applied wastewater math, and practice questions to help understand concepts and prepare for certification exams. Instruction is led by industry professionals drawn from agencies and municipalities. All sessions are held in-person, many of them at the Portland Water District. 

Registration will open soon. Click Here [ [link removed] ] for more details.

*Collection System Exam Prep *

Join NEWEA at E.J. Prescott’s Gardiner campus for a 3-day, 15-hour in-person course is intended for those preparing to take Grades 1 through 4 of the NEWEA Collection Systems (CS) Certification exams. Topics include collection system O&M, flow characteristics, pump stations, system maintenance and inspection; pipeline rehabilitation, and CS safety. The course will also review math concepts and provide example problems for exam preparation. Attendees must bring a calculator.

Please register by January 6, 2025 at this link:  [link removed]

The deadline to register for the CS exam was December 12, 2025. More information n the exam can be found on the NEWEA website: [link removed].

*MRWA Offers In-Person Emerging Contaminants Class – No Charge*

Join MRWA on Tuesday, January 13, 2026 from 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM (EST) in Richmond to learn about Emerging Contaminants (ECs), also referred to as contaminants of emerging concern (CECs). EC’s are unregulated pollutants increasingly detected in water, soil, and air, raising alarm due to their potential health and environmental risks. These include pharmaceuticals, personal care products, PFAS, and other persistent chemicals.

ECs enter the environment through wastewater, household products, and industrial discharge, and resist degradation, thus accumulating in ecosystems and living organisms. While traditional water treatment methods can reduce some contaminants, complete removal often requires costly advanced treatment technologies

The course is taught by Aaron Gaylord, MRWA Wastewater Circuit Rider. Attendees are eligible for 6.0 DEP TCH. Go to Registration [ [link removed] ] for more info.

*Cybersecurity Tabletop Exercise (TTX) – New Date!*

Join EPA, CISA, DEP, and DHHS for a no-charge, virtual Cybersecurity Tabletop Exercise (TTX) on January 20, 2026 from 9 AM – noon and receive 3.0 TCHs for both drinking water and wastewater operators. This training is directed toward Maine Water & Wastewater operators, superintendents, and IT personnel.

This 3-hour interactive, scenario-driven discussion allows participants to learn cybersecurity best practices and exercise cybersecurity incident response plans.

For more information, click here [ [link removed] ] or contact [email protected].

*NEWEA Annual Conference January 25-28, 2026 at Boston’s Mariotte Copley Place*

NEWEA is known for bringing together the brightest minds and most innovative water quality solutions—leaders who make a real impact on daily life. Nowhere is this more evident than at the NEWEA Annual Conference, the premier event showcasing influential professionals and cutting-edge work in the water environment industry.

Attracting over 2,500 engineers, consultants, scientists, operators, and students, the conference features a wide range of technical sessions and more than 200 exhibitor displays. It offers a valuable forum for sharing ideas, exploring state-of-the-art concepts in wastewater treatment, and building lasting professional connections.

Visit [link removed] for more information.

*MWUA's 100th Annual Tradeshow & Conference*

Save the date for MWUA's 100th Annual Tradeshow & Conference, February 3rd - 5th, 2026 at the Augusta Civic Center. Go to MWUA’s website at MWUA Annual Tradeshow & Conference - MWUA [ [link removed] ] for more information.

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For Practice.

1. Calculate the volume, in gallons, of a tank that is 75 feet long, 20 feet wide, and 10 feet deep.

a. 15,000 gallons
b. 112,200 gallons
c. 150,000 gallons
d. 224,400 gallons

2. An empty storage tank is 8 feet in diameter and 32 feet high. How long will it take it fill 90% of the tank volume if a pump is discharging a constant 24 gallons per minute into the tank?

a. 7 hours 31 minutes
b. 8 hours 21 minutes
c. 8 hours 23 minutes
d. 9 hours 17 minutes

3. Two columns of water are filled completely at sea level to a height of 88 feet. Column A is 0.5 inches in diameter. Column B is 5 inches in diameter. What will two pressure gauges, one attached to the bottom of each column read? Use the conversion 1 ft of head = 2.31 psi.

a. Column A: 3.8 psi, Column B: 38.0 psi
b. Column A: 8.8 psi, Column B: 8.0 psi
c. Column A: 20.3 psi, Column B: 20.3 psi
d. Column A: 38.0 psi, Column B: 38.0 psi

4. A ditch that is 4.5 feet wide, 6 feet deep, and 120 feet long has to be dug for a water line. How many cubic yards of material must be removed?

a. 120 cubic yards
b. 240 cubic yards
c. 850 cubic yards
d. 1200 cubic yards

5. How many gallons of water will a circular tank hold that is 20 feet diameter and 15 feet deep?

a. 6000 gal
b. 21,767 gal
c. 45,000 gal
d. 70,650 gal

6. Calculate the chlorine demand using the following data.
• Raw water flow 0.75 MGD
• Chlorinator feed rate 4.0 mg/L
• Chlorine residual is 1.8 mg/l

a. 0.8 mg/L
b. 2.2 mg/L
c. 4.0 mg/L
d. 5.8 mg/L

 

*Answers:*

1. b.

Volume = Length X Width X Depth = 75 ft X 20 ft X 10 ft X 7.48 gal/cu ft = 112,200 gal

2. a.

First find the volume of the tank:
Volume = 0.785 X (Diameter squared) X height = 0.785 X 8 ft X 8 ft X 32 ft 7.48 gal/cu ft = 12,025 gal.
Next find the volume if the tank is 90% full: 12,025 X 0.9 = 10,823 gal
Now use the pump capacity to find the time: 10,823 gal / 24 gal/min = 451 minutes
Change to hours: 451 minutes/60 min/hr = 7.52 hours = 7 hours, 31 minutes

3. d.

Since the height of water in the two columns is the same, the pressure is equal, even though the diameters are different.

Use the conversion 1 ft of head = 2.31 psi

88 ft X 2.31 psi/ft = 38 psi

4. a.

Volume = 4.5 ft X 6 ft X 120 ft = 3,240 cu ft

Since 1 yd = 3 ft, then 1 cu yard = 3 ft X 3 ft X 3 ft = 27 cu ft

Convert the volume to cubic yards: 3,240 cu ft X 1 cu yard/27 cu ft = 120 cu yards

5. b.

Volume = 0.785 X 20 ft X 20 ft 15 ft X 7.48 gal/cu ft =21,767 gal

6. b.

Chlorine feed – Residual = Demand
Rearrange formula to solve for Chlorine Demand:

Demand = Feed – Residual
4.0 mg/L – 1.8 mg/L = 2.2 mg/L

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