Arbor Camp Low Pressure Sewer System – Ellsworth, Maine
Overview
Arbor Camps is a unique glamping and eco-retreat development located in Ellsworth, Maine, near Acadia National Park. The development features a planned buildout of 17 tree houses, tiny houses, and cabins thoughtfully situated within a natural wooded landscape. Preserving the integrity of the natural environment was a top priority for the developers, making a low-impact wastewater solution essential to the project’s design.
A traditional gravity sewer system would have required significant excavation and disruption of the wooded terrain. Instead, individual Environment One (E/One) grinder pump stations were selected for each unit, conveying wastewater through a single 2-inch force main system, minimizing ground disturbance while providing reliable wastewater collection across the entire property.
E/One Sewer Systems Distributors for Upstate New York and New England.
Arbor Camp site plan showing completed and planned units.
Aerial view of completed tree house and cabin units amid fall foliage.
Completed cabin unit with outdoor patio area.
Elevated tree house unit, a signature structure of Arbor Camp.
Cabin unit at dusk with covered porch and hot tub.
F.R. Mahony service vehicle on site during pump station installation.
The Solution
The project utilizes E/One Low Pressure Sewer (LPS) grinder pump stations installed at each individual unit. The full build-out will serve 17 structures including tree houses, tiny houses, and cabins. All pump stations are connected via a 2-inch force main that routes wastewater to a central treatment system. The project is currently under construction, with initial units already online and operational.
The use of small-diameter force mains allowed the piping network to follow the natural contours of the land, avoiding large-scale tree removal or landscape alteration. This approach directly supported the developer’s commitment to preserving as much of the natural landscape as possible throughout the construction process.
Results
The Arbor Camp project demonstrates how E/One low pressure sewer technology can enable sustainable development in sensitive natural environments. By utilizing individual grinder pump stations and small-diameter force mains, the development was able to expand its wastewater infrastructure without compromising the wooded character of the property that makes it a destination for guests.
As construction continues toward the full 17-unit build-out, the scalable nature of the LPS system allows additional units to be connected to the existing force main with minimal disruption. The result is a flexible, low-impact wastewater solution that grows with the development while protecting the natural landscape at every stage.
