CALAIS – The city should know shortly whether water from a well near the industrial park will be approved by the state for consumption.

City officials plan to meet with a hydrologist at 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 2, to learn whether the water meets state and federal clean water standards.

In addition, the city councilors at their meeting last week explored the cost of building and renovating the city’s sidewalks. The plan is to have the city’s infrastructure upgraded by 2004, in time for the 400th anniversary of St. Croix Island.

A single test well was drilled last week at the northeast corner of Larry Mahar’s lot, north of the Calais Industrial Park. The well was set up to pump for 48 hours, and, according to the hydrologist, the results of the tests were promising. The next step is to await the outcome of the water tests. If the water meets state and federal standards, the city will undertake a monthlong test to see if the supply can produce the 350,000 gallons per day the city needs.

Historically, Calais has bought its water from neighboring St. Stephen, New Brunswick, pumping it across the Ferry Point Bridge. But during recent years, drought and economic development in St. Stephen have put a strain on that town’s aquifer system. In addition, a change in U.S. clean water standards has forced Calais to look elsewhere for its water.

Several years ago, the city approached the Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge about tapping into a site at Hanson Pit. The federal government agreed and the city spent more than $300,000 in test wells.

But last year, the federal government informed the city it would not go forward with the project.

Federal officials feared they would set a precedent by allowing the city to take water from federal lands, something they have denied communities in the Western states.

The city still is trying to recoup from the federal government the money it spent on that project. The councilors learned at a City Council meeting last week that U.S. Sen. Susan Collins had included $500,000 in this year’s energy appropriation bill to reimburse the city for the money it spent at the refuge.

During their meeting, the councilors also explored the cost of constructing new sidewalks and repairing the foundation at the city’s library.

The effort to repair the local infrastructure was spearheaded by former Mayor Judy Alexander and now by Mayor Eric Hinson. Although councilors voted to borrow $800,000 to make the improvements, they said they would hold a public hearing to seek residents’ comments on critical issues such as where the repairs are most needed. Among the areas that have been suggested are city sidewalks on Main, Washington, Lincoln, South, Baring and Union streets and sidewalks in the Milltown Park area.

In addition, city officials agreed to spend $100,000 of the $800,000 for foundation work at the Calais Free Library.