LEWISTON – The wastewater treatment facility in Lewiston had another record month for deliveries of septic tank waste in October, mostly from towns in Cumberland County that formerly sent their waste to Portland.

The Lewiston-Auburn Water Pollution Control Authority board discussed the recent increases Friday. The increases are the result of changes in rules by the governing board of the Portland facility. Several Cumberland County towns began sending their waste to Lewiston during the summer. LAWPCA Superintendent Clayton “Mac” Richardson” said the increase is not at a level where it could cost too much to accept.

“By far, last month was the biggest ever. We’re already over the budgeted amount,” Richardson said. Much of the increases have come from Casco and Raymond.

LAWPCA processed 379,650 gallons of billable septic and holding tank waste. That amount beat the previous high by 25 percent; it beat the October 2001 amount by 40 percent. While LAWPCA’s processing costs have gone up a little, revenue for October exceeded the budgeted amount by $76,000.

In other business, the board discussed 2003 being a successful year for deliveries of biosolids to farms for land applications. The directors discussed the possibility that the federal Environmental Protection Agency could change the rules pertaining to land applications due to lawsuits that have been filed to stop spreading sludge in other states. Richardson said he doubted that the EPA would change the rules.

In another matter, the board appointed Johanna Girardin to fill an at-large position on the board. Girardin, an Auburn resident, is a loan officer for Mechanics Savings Bank.

The apportionment for the first quarter of 2004 was set at 58 percent for Lewiston and 42 percent for Auburn.

The board will meet at 8 a.m. Nov. 25 to discuss the fiscal year 2004 budget. The annual meeting to adopt the budget will be at 8 a.m. Dec. 5.