On Dec. 31, Boothbay Region Water District Superintendent and General Manager Jonathan Ziegra will sign off after 25 years at the head of what is now the 12th largest district in Maine. "It was only supposed to be a short stop," he told the Register during a recent interview.

Originally from Connecticut, Ziegra graduated from University of Maine, served in the Navy at Naval Air Station Brunswick and for two terms on the board of Gray Water District. He was hired as department head by Boothbay Harbor Water District in 1999.

Over the years, his responsibilities increased as two other districts joined: East Boothbay Water District in 2001 and Southport in 2011. In 2006, he joined the board of Maine Water Utilities Association and became its president in 2012.

Today, Ziegra heads the three separate districts, reporting to a board of directors that he and Maine Rural Water Association laud for its professionalism.

When asked about the challenges the district has faced over the last 25 years, Ziegra explained that the system is designed for 35,000 people but only needs that for about two weeks each year to meet state and federal regulations. "The difference between winter and summer can be five times in terms of demand," he said. This in turn impacts rates, which are in the upper third statewide.

As the district's superintendent and general manager, Ziegra has to be focused on the present and far into the future at the same time.

Recognizing that "eventually growth will make us need additional water resources," in 2010 he became one of the founders of an informal group of fellow district GMs who began to meet to share solutions to common problems.

After casually meeting for about two years, the group sought and was given a charter by the state, officially becoming Five Rivers Regional Water Council, which includes Great Salt Bay, Bath, Brunswick-Topsham, Wiscasset and Boothbay water districts.

"Part of our future water supply will come from them in 20-50 years. Down the road all of the boards will have to amalgamate into a regional water system," he said. The vision that created Five Rivers will enable efficiencies for all of its members, including contracting and labor.

Ziegra explained that COVID "accelerated everything." During 2021 and 2022, the number of new buildings was "impressive" – roughly 100 for Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor and Southport, he estimated.

How did the district manage during the pandemic? To meet restrictions, the staff was divided into two teams: blue and gold. The teams alternated so that, at any time, half the workers were home while the other half were working. Fortunately, he said, the staff avoided the virus.

Among his team's other accomplishments, Ziegra said he is glad the district was able to get water to the Southport school, in 2015. "Everyone was convinced it was impossible, but we got it done."

Asked about the years-long difference of opinion between the water district and Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, Ziegra acknowledged the disagreement over CMBG’s expansion was "a miserable time. We were convinced we were doing the right thing, but we lost."

He said everyone involved learned something from it. Had CMBG shared its plans with the water district, the district would have worked with them and helped them secure grants so that clearcutting and destruction of the watershed was avoided. He doesn't regret what the district did.

According to Ziegra, the key learning for both parties was the district and CMBG are better working together and that the public must be told up front about plans. They currently have a much better working relationship and, as a result, on Thursday, June 20 there will be a meeting for the public to discuss plans to extend water and sewer service on Barters Island Road. The meeting is at the Boothbay Town Office at 6 p.m.

Ziegra is glad the district has talented people who take pride in their work. His opinion is validated by state officials who are required to test the drinking water every three years. For the second test period in a row (six years,) no deficiencies were found and Ziegra was told recently, "It's obvious that pride lives here."

On June 1, the district started recruiting nationally for Ziegra's replacement and he said there has been a lot of interest.

After retirement, he won't be idle. He'll be spending time at his family's home in Gray, working on needed repairs there and living in close proximity to his children and grandchildren.