NORWAY — Voters approved a $3.82 million bond for replacing sewer lines during a special town meeting Thursday.

A total of $4.2 million was approved for appropriation to the project, which includes a $382,000 grant from the United States Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development program.

The special town meeting warrant states that at an estimated maximum interest rate of 2% for a 27-year maturity, the interest would total $1,160,341, for a total cost of $4,978,341.

Wastewater department superintendent Shawn Brown assured residents that the wastewater ratepayers will be the ones paying back the bond, not the town and property taxpayers.

“The users of the sewer system will pay the debt of this loan,” he said.

Norway Select Board Chair Russell Newcomb said the town is essentially acting as a “co-signer” for the wastewater ratepayers to receive the bond to complete the project.

Brown explained that the project is ongoing and involves replacing clay sewer lines from 1913. He said there are 800 total service lines connected to about 1,600 customer units in town.

The project is currently in phase one of three and there is about 8,000 feet left of clay lines that must be replaced.

“The rest of it has been updated,” Brown said.

The project of replacing sewer lines around town, and repaving and repairing the road above the lines, has been going on for at least the past year. Brown estimated that the entire project will be complete by summer 2026 at the latest.

The Norway Select Board will next meet at the town office at 7 p.m. Sept. 5.