Vassalboro, Maine Sewer Bills Double as Utility Falls Behind on Payments

Residents of Vassalboro, Maine are feeling the pinch as rising sewer bills and a struggling local utility company put a financial strain on the community.

According to WGME 13, the approximately 200 people served by the Vassalboro Sanitary District say their quarterly sewer bills have been steadily increasing, leaving some households struggling to keep up.

Among them is a longtime local business owner, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. She recalls her sewer bills once averaged about $300 per quarter, now, they have more than doubled.

“We weren’t told it would ever be that high,” she told WGME 13. “It’s scary. Very frustrating. Resale value. What if I wanted to sell this? Or anybody? This is a big thing on lists of questions when people buy places. You can’t write this off.”

Documents from the district’s 2025 budget show the utility has taken out over $155,000 in loans, and was already $95,000 in the red at the start of the year.

The Vassalboro Sanitary District was unavailable for comment on Tuesday. CBS13 also reached out to the district’s attorney to ask what consequences the utility could face for late payments, but no response has been received.

One anonymous resident hopes town leaders will step in to help ease the burden. “If the whole town was able to pitch in on this, it would be a big help. I’ve lived in this house my whole life, and I’ve never had any children. But I’m paying for these kids to go to school,” he told the news station reported.

Adding to the challenge, the sanitary district currently lacks enough members to form a voting quorum. No meetings or official business can take place until the trustee vacancies are filled, leaving residents in a holding pattern while bills continue to rise.