FARMINGTON - Sand and aging equipment have recently created a couple of issues for the town's wastewater treatment facility.

An effluent discharge system has been covered by about 6 feet of sand while a pump may be wearing out after being used around the clock for 16 years, superintendent Steven Moore told selectmen on Tuesday night.

Moore brought engineers Michael Stein and Kyle Coolidge from Woodard and Curran of Portland, which designed the discharge system, to the meeting to discuss the problem.

Earlier this year, the discharge pipe was not working properly, backing up into the plant, Moore said. After the pipe was flushed by workers from Ted Berry Co. in January, the problem seemed to be solved. Then in March, the same problem reoccurred, he said.

Divers from Westbrook found several feet of sand covering the outflow pipe, he said. A temporary bypass into the old discharge system was created, with approval of the state Department of Environmental Protection.

The new discharge system was installed two years ago when the state made the town make a change from the old discharge location, but now the department faces a sand issue with the new site, Moore said.

"I've been here 36 years and I've never seen sand in that spot," Moore said Wednesday.

Buried in ledge, in what is historically the deepest part of the river, the 18-inch outflow pipe has two, 10-inch vertical ports that release treated water into the river for four hours each day, Stein explained.

Options discussed included dredging the sand and extending the diffusers above it at a 45 -or 90-degree angle - they are now vertical - moving the sand downstream to recreate the hole where the pipe is located. It was also pointed out that the sand is may be the result of the river cleansing itself, and that it will wash out as spring progresses, he said.

Moore expects costs to dredge the 800- to 1000-cubic-yards of sand to run between $20,000 and $25,000, he said Wednesday.

The town asked the DEP to help with funding, Town Manager Richard Davis said.

"We still don't know if this will fix the problem," said Selectman Nancy Porter.

Since DEP mandated the discharge be changed, it needs to help solve the problem, said Chairman Stephan Bunker.

"It may flush itself as spring progresses and just be the act of a deep hole cleaning itself," Bunker said. "It would be criminal if we didn't give the season time to progress."

That should happen within a month if it's going to, Stein said. He advised the board that it would be better to get a plan together while hoping it washes out. The prepared plan will show the DEP that the town is concerned and working on the problem, he said.

The board agreed to let Moore and Davis continue to work on solutions and draft a letter to the DEP.

The other issue facing the department, Moore said, could be a screw pump that is wearing out after 16 years.

"It's going be costly to replace the same type of system," he told the board, later suggesting the cost for the system could run up to a $1 million.

Another type of centrifugal pump may be a better alternative and less costly, he said. He plans to contact engineering firms for more information and prices, but before that, Moore said he needs to determine the problem with the pump. He went on to suggest that something could be caught in the system.

A special camera will be used Thursday to check the pump, Moore added.