CALAIS – The federal government has turned off the tap on the city’s effort to establish a water source at the Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge.

That unilateral decision could cost the city the $275,000 it already has spent on the project.

Although the two sides have been working to establish a new water source for Calais residents, the regional chief of the National Wildlife Refuge System last week informed the city that the refuge was not an option.

In his letter, Anthony Leger, regional chief of the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Fish and Wildlife Service, blamed the decision on changes in the law. Leger said a 1997 law and the ensuing regulations make it impossible to proceed with siting the well and associated facilities on refuge land.

“Our approval of such a use could have serious consequences and set an inappropriate precedent throughout the system,” Leger wrote.

The Massachusetts-based official apparently believes that if the federal government gives its approval to Calais to tap into the huge aquifer below the refuge, there would be similar requests from cattle ranchers in Western states where water is in short supply.

Leger suggested the city explore alternative sources. The other options include a well on private land located about two miles from the refuge; water from neighboring Baileyville; or the continued purchase of water from Canada.

Calais obtains its water from St. Stephen, New Brunswick, and the water is pumped into Calais over the Ferry Point Bridge. Changes in U.S. clean water standards forced Calais to look for an alternative water source because the St. Stephen water does not meet new U.S. standards.

Four years ago, Calais voters overwhelmingly approved a referendum that authorized the city to spend up to $2 million to develop its own water system. They later voted to increase that amount.

At first, the federal government seemed ready to enter into a 50-year lease with the city for the Moosehorn water source at a cost of $1 per year. Later, federal officials said they wanted to swap land with the city, rather than enter into a lease.

Before the land swap could be completed, the matter had to be approved by the federal Migratory Waterfowl Commission. The agency took no action. Last week, Leger’s letter arrived.

The Calais City Council plans to hold a workshop Wednesday night to review its options.

Contacted at his home Saturday, interim City Manager Jim Porter said he was disappointed by the news. He said the city hopes to be able to recover some of the $275,000 it has already spent on the project.

Porter stressed that not all the money would be wasted, because the expenses also covered engineering studies that could be transferred to other projects.

Former Mayor Judy Alexander, who along with the City Council, worked hard to establish a new water system at the refuge, said that although there were several viable options, she did not believe staying with St. Stephen was one of them.

Last summer, low water levels forced the St. Stephen Town Council to order its residents to conserve water. Alexander said the Canadians have given Calais until July to find an alternative source, but have said they won’t turn off the tap until Calais finds a solution.

The former mayor said she believes the Baileyville option is the most viable. “They have more water than we will ever use, even if we have a lot of industries come in here,” she said.

Another option, Alexander said, would be to tap a source about two miles beyond Moosehorn on the Charlotte Road. “That’s a viable option if people want to spend the extra million dollars or so that it’s projected to cost,” she said.