Portland Water District
| Company type | Municipally owned utility |
|---|---|
| Industry | Water supply |
| Founded | 1862 |
| Headquarters | Portland , United States |
Area served | Portland, South Portland, Cape Elizabeth, Westbrook, Cumberland, Falmouth, Gorham, Casco Bay islands, Steep Falls, Standish, North Windham |
| Products | Water supply and treatment |
Number of employees | 186 |
Portland Water District (PWD) is a municipally owned water utility located in Portland, Maine. It was originally founded in 1862 as the private Portland Water Company (PWC) to address the city's expanding demand amid insufficient well water resources. Since 1869, its primary water source has been Sebago Lake, which ranks as Maine's second-largest lake.
In 1908, PWD acquired both the Portland Water Company and Standish Water and Construction Company, initially providing service to Portland, South Portland, Cape Elizabeth, and Westbrook. Additionally, it supplied water to the Gorham and Falmouth Water Companies. Over the following twenty years, PWD extended its coverage to include Cumberland, Falmouth, Gorham, and the Casco Bay islands. During the late 1900s, infrastructure enhancements allowed PWD to broaden its service area further to Steep Falls, Standish, and North Windham.
Compliance with regulations such as the Clean Water Act of 1972 and the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974 prompted the establishment of a new disinfection facility at Sebago Lake in 1994. PWD currently manages the East End Treatment Plant and has developed additional treatment sites in Westbrook, Little Falls, Cape Elizabeth, and Peaks Island.
The district supplies an average daily volume of 21 million gallons of water. It employs a workforce of 186 individuals and oversees maintenance of more than 5,000 hydrants, roughly 115 miles of pipelines, and 76 pumping stations. Its administrative offices are located at 225 Douglass Street in Portland; this building was designed by architects John Calvin Stevens and John Howard Stevens and inaugurated in 1928.