KINGFIELD – A $1.08 million water system upgrade project starts May 19.

The Kingfield Water District will replace century-old piping while looping two system dead ends together for a constant flow, eliminating places for bacteria to grow, district superintendent Alan Stewart said.

“Dead ends can be hot spots for bacteria, so to eliminate them is great,” Stewart said.

The upgrade is being funded by a $750,000 grant and a no-interest loan from the Maine Department of Health and Human Services Clean Water Program, Stewart said.

The grant application was prepared for the town by the Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments, Stewart said.

He said the project will begin at the so-called watering trough in the center of town with work being done between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. when there is little traffic. The remaining work will be conducted during daytime hours.

E.L. Vining & Son of Jay will be in charge of construction. The route will be north along Route 27 from the Poland Spring plant onto High Street and up Depot Street to Route 142, where it heads approximately one mile west. The project is expected to take about 90 days.

The last major water main project by the district was done about 10 years ago. Since then the district has made upgrades to the pumping station and added a second well to the water supply.

“This project will further improve the quality of the water and allow better pressure in many areas,” Stewart said.