NEWPORT – As winter ends, construction season begins and the Newport Water District has a number of large-scale projects on tap this year.

Through a series of grants and loan programs, the district has replaced about 12 percent of its antiquated, cast-iron piping over the past four years and greatly expanded its service area while still maintaining rates on par with the state average, said district Superintendent Thomas Todd on Friday.

This summer’s projects include a new standpipe, replacement of a defective storage tank, improved household connections, installation of new testing and overflow equipment, expansion of existing lines, and paving of Elm Street – the site of major water improvements last year.

A new, 300,000-gallon water storage tank on Outer Elm Street will be constructed, the third standpipe to be installed in Newport. By linking all three, said Todd, water pressure throughout the Newport system will be stabilized and firefighting capabilities will be enhanced.

The tank, at $279,000, is part of a $2.4 million upgrade financed through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Maine’s state revolving loan fund and a Community Development Block Grant.

“This will also improve water quality by allowing us to significantly reduce the concentration of chlorine in the water,” said Todd. He estimated that the standpipe will be “up, welded together and in service by July 15.”

Once the Elm Street tank is finished and on line, Todd said the 260,000-gallon Williams Road standpipe will be taken off line and replaced. The coating on the interior of the tank is flaking off, causing minute rust spots, said Todd, and the manufacturer is recalling all tanks built before 1997. Newport’s tank was built in 1995. Replacement costs will be borne by the manufacturer.

The work, he said, will allow the tank to be raised by 10 feet, which will enhance water pressure considerably on the Williams Road, site of two schools and a number of private residences.

Newport Water District also will complete a water service loop from Big East Auto to Burger King on Route 100, a project that will be paid for by R.H. Foster Co., which owns a Mobil station in the area.

A $40,000 reconstruction of a connection at the intersection of Water, Main and Mill streets is planned, as well as the installation of an overflow system and a data collection system at the Slow Sand Plant on Williams Road. The town’s water source, Nokomis Pond, dropped two feet last summer due to drought conditions, said Todd. The new equipment will allow for more suction capability when water supplies are low, he said.

Todd said an old 6-inch main on Elm Street will be abandoned and the nine existing house services will be connected to a 12-inch main installed in 1980. This project will involve no cost to homeowners, he said.

Todd said NWD will be paving Elm Street this summer. He explained that the law only requires the district to pave the trenches cut in existing pavement but “we’ll be paving it shoulder to shoulder. We made so many crossings that we thought we should step up to the plate.”