South Portland has been trying to understand and resolve the water quality problems at Willard Beach for more than a decade.
In 2014, the city conducted dye testing to track water flow. In 2019, the city did smoke testing to identify potential leaks. In 2024, the city lined the stormwater pipe on Coolidge Avenue, adding another 30 to 50 years to the pipe’s lifetime and significantly reducing bacteria traces.
Willard Beach was added to the Maine Department of Environment Protection’s list of impaired waters because of persistent bacterial contamination in 2024. This designation does not mean the beach is unsafe for the public, but it does indicate a persistent issue that needs to be addressed.
What can you do to help eliminate sources of bacteria?
When private laterals — the pipes that connect residences and businesses to the city’s sewer system — are in poor condition, either collapsed, cracked or invaded by roots, sewage can leak out and eventually runoff into stormwater drains.
Aubrey Strause, the stormwater program coordinator with the city’s Water Resource Protection Department, said that the city doesn’t know the extent to which this is a source of bacteria.
The city can’t inspect or repair these laterals because they are on private property.
Strause encourages residents to have their sewer laterals inspected and repaired. There are numerous companies around the city that provide this service, like Zoom Drain, that use a camera to inspect the private sewage line.
Inspection typically costs about $2,000, she said.
If you are buying a home, you can require an inspection and require a seller to make repairs, Strause said. And most homeowner’s insurance covers repairs, lining and replacement.
If pipes are cracked, you can line it, which doesn’t require lawn excavation. And it’s typically between a third or a half of the cost of pipe replacement.
But if the pipe is too damaged for the scope to make it all the way through, then the pipe likely needs to be replaced.
What can you do to help eliminate sources of nutrients in the water?
Nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen feed algae and make it grow like crazy, Strause said.
The algae sucks up the oxygen in the water, lowering the pH levels, making it harder for shellfish to form shells. It can also irritate skin and eyes for swimmers.
What you can do:
- Don’t let water from car wash run into stormwater drains. Park your car on the lawn instead, Strause said.
- Only apply fertilizer if necessary. And do it carefully.
- Pick up pet waste.
- Don’t dump grass clippings. Take them to the municipal services facility.
- Try to repair and prevent erosion. Soil is the number one pollutant in water, according to Strause.