Westbrook Water Treatment Plant Earns AQUARIUS Recognition

Westbrook Public Utilities’ Water Treatment Plant has received one of five AQUARIUS Awards from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Each awarded project was funded in part by the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) program and have proven to be innovative, resilient, and protect public health. The city’s water treatment plant received the Excellence in Environmental and Public Health Protection Award for its excellence in problem solving to improve water infrastructure, supporting healthy Americans and laying a foundation for economic prosperity.

In 2025, Westbrook Public Utilities proudly unveiled a new water treatment plant designed to provide the community with safe, reliable, and high-quality drinking water. Bolton & Menk provided design and construction services for the project.

The facility incorporates a treatment train that combines traditional gravity filtration with an advanced reverse osmosis system. The gravity filter provides the first line of defense, removing components such as iron and manganese from the water, while the reverse osmosis system further treats the water by removing nitrates, organic matter, hardness, dissolved salts and minerals, and other elements to ensure pristine water quality. This integrated approach enhances water quality and ensures operational flexibility to meet varying seasonal water demand and well conditions.

The new plant represents a significant investment in public health, sustainability, and the long-term resilience of Westbrook’s water supply.

Innovation doesn’t stop at design — it starts with understanding the water.
Check out this episode of Field Day to learn how to test for iron and manganese, and why monitoring these levels matters.