The Belfast Water District uses ground water as its water sources. There are two gravel packed wells located in the Goose River Aquifer in Swanville and Belfast. These wells have been in production since the 1950’s and provide a reliable source of supply. The wells are protected by the Aquifer/Watershed Overlay District Ordinance adopted by the City of Belfast in 1990. The original source of water for Belfast was the Little River located south of the city. Use of this supply was discontinued in the early 1980’s. However, the utility realizes the importance of preserving this source and continues to protect and maintain the Little River as a backup source of supply.

To ensure the quality of your source water, the treatment techniques used by this water utility include chemical enhancement for corrosion control. Maintaining the proper pH and the addition of sodium hydroxide (25% solution) which is a corrosion control chemical, to the water helps us maintain acceptable levels. This helps protect our distribution system and your home’s plumbing system from the affects of lead and copper. This treatment has been so effective that our annual monitoring program for lead and copper levels has been reduced to once every three years under EPA’s guidelines. Fluoride is added to prevent tooth decay. Fluoridation was authorized by referendum ballot on March 14, 1960. Also, chlorine levels are continuously monitored and controlled to insure adequate disinfection has occurred prior to delivery to you. In addition, sodium hypochlorite 12 ½% is added to the water at a continuously monitored and controlled rate to insure adequate disinfection of the water has occurred prior to delivery to you.

The water supply and distribution system includes over 39 miles of water mains. The system has the capacity to maintain 3,050,000 gallons of water in four storage tanks. This storage allows us to meet peak system demand periods and maintain adequate supply during fire fighting activities.