SEWER ABATEMENT APPLICATION
1 City Hall Plaza ▪ Ellsworth, ME 04605-1942
Phone (207) 667-8632 ▪ Fax (207) 667-4908
www.ellsworthmaine.gov
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The City of Ellsworth Wastewater Department acknowledges that a customer may have
unusually high sewer usage due to a mechanical failure within their household, which may be the result
of a running toilet, leaking faucet, or broken pipes. The Wastewater Department understands that these
unfortunate and unforeseen circumstances do occur.
The Wastewater Department can provide assistance by issuing an abatement to eligible
customers of extraordinary high usage caused by mechanical failure. If approved, the City may abate the
usage over the average of the bills from the previous four (4) quarters.
A. ELIGIBILITY
• Consumption must cause your sewer bill to be greater than the average bill in the
previous four quarters.
• The excess usage must have been accidental, unpreventable, or reasonably
undetectable. Negligence, such as failure to maintain pipes or to adequately maintain
vacant properties, shall disqualify a customer from abatement.
• The applicant must have been customer of record on the high bill. (If the high bill was in
a tenant’s name, the property owner may be allowed to apply depending on
extenuating circumstances.)
• The applicant must have been a customer for at least a one year period.
• Customer has not received abatement in the previous 12 months.
• Abatements will not be given for high usage caused by swimming pools.
B. ABATEMENT APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
• The applicant must submit the abatement application within 60 calendar days of the
billing date on the high bill.
• The abatement application must be completed. Partially filled out applications will not
be accepted.
C. REVIEW AND APPROVAL PROCESS
• A decision on the abatement request will be available within 30 calendar days of receipt
of a completed abatement request form.
• Abatement requires approval from the Wastewater Superintendent.
• The City has the right to deny any request for abatement.
D. BILL PAYMENT
• An abated bill is due (or a payment plan established) within 30 days of decision.
