Gravel bars are evident on the Aroostook River near the mouth of the Presque Isle Stream on July 11. The Aroostook River feeds gravel aquifers that supply drinking water to almost 6,000 people, and as of July, the river's flow is less than half of the average for this time of year. Credit: Anthony Brino

PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — This summer, Frank Kearney finds himself in a familiar routine, but one he’d rather not be in.

“We’re going into the dry time of the summer and you can tell by looking at the Aroostook River that it’s already low,” said Kearney, superintendent of the Presque Isle Utilities District.

The PIUD supplies drinking water to almost 6,000 people in Presque Isle from two river-fed wells drawing from a gravel aquifer that in turn is dependent on steady infiltration from the Aroostook River. In August of last year, during the height of a drought, Kearney was prepared to ask the PIUD’s customers to make voluntary cutbacks to water usage.

“I’m concerned earlier this year because it’s dry already,” Kearney said Wednesday. “For this time of year, it’s way below average.”

The Bangor Daily News is pleased to feature content from our sister website, The County. To read the rest of “Presque Isle water manager eyes dry river, another well,” an article by The County staff writer Anthony Brino, please follow this link to The County online.