Water and wastewater workers want higher vaccine priority Officials with water and sanitary districts around the state are concerned about what may happen to their staff if they can not get vaccinated quickly. Author: Don Carrigan Updated: 9:43 PM EST February 2, 2021 DAMARISCOTTA, Maine — The pipes of a municipal water system may seem to have little connection to the COVID pandemic, but Scott Abbattoni said the link is quite real. “The water districts and sewer districts are the first line of defense for health,” Abbattoni, who is water director for the Great Salt Bay Sanitary District in Damariscotta, said. “You don’t hear of people getting cholera or dysentery, because that stuff is taken care of. But what happens if people are out?”