WATERVILLE -- Oakland could solve its wastewater-treatment problems by connecting to the Kennebec Sewerage treatment plant.

But to do so Oakland would have to go through Waterville Sewerage District's system.

And that's when it gets complicated.

Representatives from Waterville, Oakland, Kennebec Sewerage District and state Department of Environmental Protection officials learned this firsthand Wednesday afternoon during a two-hour plus meeting in the Waterville council chambers.

In the end, though, the parties involved agreed to move forward on the proposal so as not to miss out on various grant opportunities that might be assessed.

"It would be great to see this succeed," Brian Kavanah of DEP said. "I think we can get there if we all work together."

The biggest hurdle is the Waterville Sewerage District concern over its peak-flow rates during wet weather. Right now, Waterville Sewerage District Superintendent David Blair said, those flows at times are in violation of limits established by Kennebec Sewerage District.

"If peak flow is a problem," Blair said, "then in order to take on more flow, we need to get rid of flows."

Blair said currently he does not have enough information to determine what impact taking on Oakland's wastewater would have on Waterville's system.

He stressed, however, that he is open-minded to the proposal but has to be mindful of the effect the move would have on his rate payers.

"One of the things we have to be careful of," he said, "is we have to protect our users and our future users in Waterville."

Changes in state law regarding discharge of wastewater are what caused Oakland to explore a relationship with Kennebec Sewerage District, a district that consists of Waterville, Winslow, Fairfield and Benton.

For the last 36 years the Oakland Sewerage treatment plant has discharged wastewater into an impounded portion of Messalonskee Stream.

State law no longer permits using an impounded body of water for that purpose -- the Oakland treatment plant has operated without a permit for the last three years.

DEP has allowed Oakland Sewerage District to continue the practice with the understanding that it will find a long-term solution to the problem.

Oakland Town Manager Steven A. Dyer has said that sending wastewater to the Kennebec Sewerage treatment plant appears to be the most practical option.

DEP Commissioner David P. Littell stressed, however, that his department cannot allow the Oakland treatment plant to operate without a permit indefinitely.

"At some point," he said at the meeting, "we have to decide what to do with the Oakland permit."