Pearl Street Pump Station Upgrade

What is the Pearl Street Pump Station and why does it need to be replaced?

The Pearl Street Pump Station and its force main are critical pieces of South Portland’s wastewater infrastructure. It conveys wastewater collected from the entire western side of South Portland from its location on Pearl Street to the wastewater treatment plant located across the Fore River on Waterman Drive. Originally built in 1972, the station’s pumps, electrical systems, and force main have aged beyond their useful life. The mechanical system is beyond repair and its wet wells and grit system are undersized. Review the July 14, 2024 presentation to City Council for more information.

Why does it need to be replaced now?

The replacement of the Pearl Street Pump Station and its force main is crucial at this time for two main reasons. First, the current station is at risk of failure due to age and expected life-span. Second, the replacement is a requirement of our Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Facilities Plan Update, which was approved by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection. This project follows a series of initiatives to reduce CSOs on the west side of the city, aligning with our CSO Facilities Plans (originally developed in 1994, updated in 2008 and again in 2022). Learn more about CSOs and view our CSO Facilities Plan.

What are the risks if the replacement is delayed?

Delaying the replacement of the Pearl Street Pump Station significantly increases the risk of Sanitary Sewer Overflows (SSOs) due to potential failures of the pump station components or the force main. If the force main failed, the 1 million gallons per day of wastewater that is pumped by Pearl Street Pump Station would flow directly into the Fore River until the break was resolved. Emergency repairs and bypass pumping could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. The current pump station's components, including the grit removal system, are experiencing ongoing failures and necessitate expensive repairs. These parts are so old that replacements are becoming unavailable, making a complete system replacement necessary. Furthermore, the city risks being placed under a Consent Decree by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection for non-compliance with our 2022 approved CSO Facilities Plan. Learn more about SSO and view our  CSO Facilities Plan. 

How would a failure of the Pearl Street force main compare to other force main failures?

We have experienced five force main failures in South Portland in recent years: three on the Main Street Pump Station force main (also slated for replacement in the coming fiscal year) and two on the Willard Beach Pump Station force main, which underwent partial replacement in November 2023. The Pearl Street Pump Station force main was installed at the same time as these failing force mains. Repairs for the Main Street and Willard Beach force mains were difficult and costly as it is and those were easily accessed and had flows that we could manage by using our Aquatech pump truck. The Pearl Street force main is routed under the Fore River and would have to be accessed by barge to be repaired. Flows to the pump station would far exceed our ability to bypass pump in house and would require costly outsourcing. 

View the July 14, 2024 Conceptual Design Presentation to City Council