Late returns showed Mainers narrowly favoring a $3.4 million bond issue to support drinking water programs, to support the construction of wastewater treatment facilities and to leverage $17 million in other funds.

With 79 percent of precincts reporting, the measure was passing by 51 percent to 49 percent.

Under both the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Clean Water Act, Congress established State Revolving Fund, or SRF, programs, which are financed with federal grants. To secure those grants, Maine must provide annually a 20 percent state match.

The SRF program is an important source of funding for the replacement and improvement of Maine’s aging water and wastewater systems. The $3.4 million, if approved, will provide the match for the 2009 program.