MAINE PUBLIC • October 27, 2026
Unusually low rainfall helped Maine set a new record for the least amount of sewage pollution into local waterways last year, according to a new state report. Maine has been trying to eliminate combined sewer outfalls, or CSOs, in dozens of towns and cities for decades. During heavy rains, these older systems carry combined stormwater and raw sewage into rivers and coastal waters. Last year, about 153 million gallons of mixed water was discharged from CSOs, half as much as the previous lowest record, according to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection.