From Sludge to Solutions: Reimagining Wastewater Management in Maine

In honor of Clean Water Week, we’re taking a closer look at one of the most pressing—and complex—issues in environmental infrastructure today: what to do with our sludge.

Following up on our earlier program, Wastewater 101, we’ll be joined by Dan Marks, Wastewater Superintendent for the Town of Falmouth, to explore the challenges and opportunities in managing wastewater biosolids in Maine. With PFAS contamination disrupting decades-old practices, the state is at a pivotal moment. What could a safer, smarter, more sustainable future look like?

We’ll unpack the potential of new sludge treatment technologies, the importance of reclaiming nutrient value from waste, and the impact of legislation like LD 25—the proposed $50 million bond—that will help lower costs for ratepayers and drive important upgrades. Dan will also share case studies of communities already charting a path forward—and what Maine can learn from them.

Join us to gain a better understanding of where things stand, where we could go, and what it will take to get there.