LIVERMORE FALLS – Trustees learned Wednesday morning that the Livermore Falls Water District received the Outstanding Operations Award at the Maine Rural Water Association’s annual Water and Wastewater Conference Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 in Freeport.

To earn the award, systems must have made significant improvements to their facilities to better serve their customers and to protect the public health and environment.

With the help of the USDA’s Rural Development arm, the Livermore Falls district has made more than $3 million in improvements, plant upgrades and replacement of water mains in the last four years, according to Carlton Gardner, MRWA program specialist.

The district has also partnered with local schools, state and county agencies, and MRWA to conduct educational outreach projects, monitor the quality of its drinking water sources and enact a Watershed Protection Ordinance.

In accepting the award, Superintendent Doug Burdo said the award was due solely to the hard work of the staff – Allen Adams, Cheryl Marceau, Cindy Hazelton and Scott Greenleaf – and a supportive board. “With all these folks, it makes management easy.”

MRWA is a private, nonprofit organization that represents water and wastewater systems through technical, financial and managerial support.

In other business Wednesday, the district’s board reviewed the water protection program for Parkhurst Pond, also known as Parker Pond. After much discussion, board members voted to submit to the town of Jay the same ordinance that is now in place for protection of Moose Hill Pond, except for a section on gas-powered ice augers. The board will seek legal advice on the wording of a section regarding the right of way that Jay wants from the district.

A $50 donation was made to the Maine Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program.

The trustees will meet again at 7 a.m. Jan. 12.