Water Quality & Climate Change

Both Biddeford and Saco have wastewater treatment plants along the edges of the river. These plants return treated water to the river, monitoring and testing to ensure the river's water quality meets specific standards.

But as our climate continues to change, increased rainfall and rising sea levels are presenting new challenges to our waterfront community.

The City of Saco recently invested in alterations to the water treatment plant to shield it from rising sea levels.

Without these improvements, the plant is at risk of flooding, which could release untreated wastewater into the river.

Citizens within the Saco River watershed in the 1970s were concerned about the degradation of rivers and streams in southern Maine.

In 1971, they approached the Maine State Legislature, which recognized the need to protect and properly develop this region — eventually leading to the creation of the Saco River Corridor Commission in 1973.

• The SRCC is a state-run collaborative of 20+ towns along the Saco River
• Their goal is to protect public health and safety along the Saco River
• They regulate land and water uses within the watershed to minimize detrimental impacts to the river
• They monitor water quality at 40+ locations
• They provide interactive maps and studies to support local communities