Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that she advanced $59,063,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending for drinking water and wastewater infrastructure projects throughout Maine in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Interior and Environment Appropriations bill. The bill, which was officially approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee this week, now awaits consideration by the full Senate and House.
“Maintaining and upgrading drinking water and wastewater infrastructure is vital to strengthening the economic and environmental health of communities throughout Maine,” said Senator Collins. “This funding would help to ensure Mainers continue to have access to clean, safe drinking water and functioning sewer systems while preserving Maine’s natural resources. As the Chair of the Appropriations Committee, I will continue to advocate for this funding as the appropriations process moves forward.”
This funding advanced through the Committee’s markup of the FY 2026 Interior and Environment Appropriations bill—an important step that now allows the bill to be considered by the full Senate.
Funding advanced by Senator Collins is as follows:
City of Biddeford for Wastewater Infrastructure Improvements
Recipient: City of Biddeford
Project Location: Biddeford, ME
Amount Requested: $6,000,000
Project Purpose: To upgrade wastewater infrastructure in Biddeford.
City of Brewer for Drinking Water Infrastructure Improvements
Recipient: City of Brewer
Project Location: Brewer, ME
Amount Requested: $1,576,000
Project Purpose: To upgrade drinking water infrastructure in Brewer.
Canton Water District for Drinking Water Infrastructure Improvements
Recipient: Canton Water District
Project Location: Canton, ME
Amount Requested: $1,250,000
Project Purpose: To upgrade drinking water infrastructure in Canton.
Caribou Utilities District for Wastewater Infrastructure Improvements
Recipient: Caribou Utilities District
Project Location: Caribou, ME
Amount Requested: $3,288,000
Project Purpose: To upgrade wastewater infrastructure in Caribou.
Clinton Water District for Wastewater Infrastructure Improvements
Recipient: Clinton Water District
Project Location: Clinton, ME
Amount Requested: $3,250,000
Project Purpose: To upgrade wastewater infrastructure in Clinton.
Town of Fort Kent for Water Infrastructure Improvements
Recipient: Town of Fort Kent
Project Location: Fort Kent, ME
Amount Requested: $3,500,000
Project Purpose: To improve water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure in Fort Kent.
City of Gardiner for Wastewater Infrastructure Improvements
Recipient: City of Gardiner
Project Location: Gardiner, ME
Amount Requested: $1,422,000
Project Purpose: To upgrade wastewater infrastructure in Gardiner.
Town of Gorham for Wastewater Infrastructure Improvements
Recipient: Town of Gorham
Project Location: Gorham, ME
Amount Requested: $3,000,000
Project Purpose: To upgrade wastewater infrastructure in Gorham.
Loring Development Authority for Water Infrastructure Improvements
Recipient: Loring Development Authority
Project Location: Limestone, ME
Amount Requested: $1,740,000
Project Purpose: To upgrade water infrastructure in Loring Commerce Centre.
Lubec Water District for Drinking Water Infrastructure Improvements
Recipient: Lubec Water District
Project Location: Lubec, ME
Amount Requested: $2,000,000
Project Purpose: To upgrade drinking water infrastructure in Lubec.
Town of Machias for Wastewater Infrastructure Improvements
Recipient: Town of Machias
Project Location: Machias, ME
Amount Requested: $1,378,000
Project Purpose: To upgrade wastewater infrastructure in Machias.
Monmouth Water Association for Drinking Water Infrastructure Improvements
Recipient: Monmouth Water Association
Project Location: Monmouth, ME
Amount Requested: $3,555,000
Project Purpose: To upgrade drinking water infrastructure in Monmouth.
Town of North Haven for Wastewater Infrastructure Improvements
Recipient: Town of North Haven
Project Location: North Haven, ME
Amount Requested: $4,000,000
Project Purpose: To upgrade wastewater infrastructure in North Haven.
Town of Old Orchard Beach for Wastewater Infrastructure Improvements
Recipient: Town of Old Orchard Beach
Project Location: Old Orchard Beach, ME
Amount Requested: $1,000,000
Project Purpose: To upgrade wastewater infrastructure in Old Orchard Beach.
Old Town Water District for Drinking Water Infrastructure Improvements
Recipient: Old Town Water District
Project Location: Old Town, ME
Amount Requested: $3,560,000
Project Purpose: To upgrade drinking water infrastructure in Old Town.
Presque Isle Utilities District for Water Infrastructure Improvements
Recipient: Presque Isle Utilities District
Project Location: Presque Isle, ME
Amount Requested: $2,000,000
Project Purpose: To upgrade drinking water infrastructure in Presque Isle.
Richmond Utilities District for Wastewater Infrastructure Improvements
Recipient: Richmond Utilities District
Project Location: Richmond, ME
Amount Requested: $2,500,000
Project Purpose: To upgrade wastewater infrastructure in Richmond.
South Berwick Sewer District for Wastewater Infrastructure Improvements
Recipient: South Berwick Sewer District
Project Location: South Berwick, ME
Amount Requested: $3,000,000
Project Purpose: To upgrade wastewater infrastructure in South Berwick.
Town of Southwest Harbor for Wastewater Infrastructure Improvements
Recipient: Town of Southwest Harbor
Project Location: Southwest Harbor, ME
Amount Requested: $780,000
Project Purpose: To upgrade wastewater infrastructure in Southwest Harbor.
Vassalboro Sanitary District for Wastewater Infrastructure Improvements
Recipient: Vassalboro Sanitary District
Project Location: Vassalboro, ME
Amount Requested: $386,000
Project Purpose: To upgrade wastewater infrastructure in Vassalboro.
Veazie Sewer District for Wastewater Infrastructure Improvements
Recipient: Veazie Sewer District
Project Location: Veazie, ME
Amount Requested: $1,878,000
Project Purpose: To upgrade wastewater infrastructure in Veazie.
Pleasant Point for Wastewater Infrastructure Improvements
Recipient: Passamaquoddy Tribe at Pleasant Point
Project Location: Washington County, ME
Amount Requested: $5,000,000
Project Purpose: To upgrade wastewater infrastructure in Washington County.
Wells Sanitary District for Wastewater Infrastructure Improvements
Recipient: Wells Sanitary District
Project Location: Wells, ME
Amount Requested: $3,000,000
Project Purpose: To upgrade wastewater infrastructure in Wells.
In 2021, Congress reinstituted Congressionally Directed Spending. Following this decision, Senator Collins has secured more than $1 billion for hundreds of Maine projects for FY 2022, FY 2023, and FY 2024. As the Chair of the Appropriations Committee, Senator Collins is committed to championing targeted investments that will benefit Maine communities.
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