Q1. What is the P1080 PNSY Power and Water Resiliency Project?
- A1. The P1080 project is a Navy-led infrastructure initiative aimed at modernizing and increasing the resiliency, reliability, and capacity of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard’s power and water systems. It includes upgrades to both on-base and off-base infrastructure, including improvements to Kittery Water District’s treatment plant and water distribution system.
Q2. Why are water system upgrades necessary at this time?
- A2. To support a more modern and technologically advanced Navy submarine fleet, PNSY must ensure its utility systems are resilient, reliable, and capable of meeting future demands. These upgrades are essential to meet the Navy’s evolving mission and will also benefit all KWD customers.
Q3. Who is funding the water system upgrades?
- A3. The U.S. Navy is fully funding the water treatment and distribution system upgrades. There will be no direct cost to KWD customers or ratepayers.
Q4. What specific improvements are being made to the KWD Water Treatment Plant?
- A4. The plant’s treatment capacity will increase from 5 million gallons per day (MGD) to 7 MGD. The upgrades will also provide redundancy, improve safety and functionality, and ensure essential treatment processes continue even during peak demand or unexpected issues.
Q5. Will these upgrades affect local residents and water customers?
- A5a. Yes—but in a positive way. While the upgrades are designed to meet the Navy’s needs, they will also enhance the overall reliability, resiliency, and capacity of KWD’s water system for all customers in the district.
- A5b. Town expansion projects would benefit from increased capacity, like those identified in the 5-Year Kittery Comprehensive Plan (i.e. affordable housing plan for workforce and seniors).
Q6. Will there be disruptions to traffic or water service during construction?
- A6. Some disruptions may occur during the construction phase, particularly when installing new waterlines. KWD is coordinating closely with local municipalities and state agencies to minimize impacts and keep the public informed.
Q7. When will construction on the Water Treatment Plant begin?
- A7. Pending final approvals and funding, the Navy expects to award the construction contract to KWD in calendar year 2026. Work on the Water Treatment Plant and distribution system upgrades will occur over the following several years.
Q8. Who retains control over the upgraded water infrastructure?
- A8. Kittery Water District will retain full ownership and authority over the upgraded water treatment and distribution systems, as well as the land where the upgrades occur.
Q9. What improvements are planned for the water distribution system?
- A9. Upgrades will include installing larger and parallel water mains in key areas of Kittery. These improvements will enhance capacity, improve system resiliency, and provide critical redundancy to the water network.
Q10. How can the public stay informed about the project?
- A10. The Navy and KWD are committed to providing regular updates. Community members can stay informed through KWD Trustee meetings and a dedicated project page available on the KWD website.
