Excavation of the water district in Rumford, in 1892, took place as the town built up around the paper mills that were being constructed by Hugh Chisholm and his business partners in the Oxford Paper Company.

This sewer system would be responsible for supplying the entire town of Rumford's water.

A Rumford Falls Times article recalls the process with the details that 125 men were employed to excavate the trenches and that the sewer pipes were set to be laid 11 feet deep. The article also stated that many inhabitants would install indoor plumbing once the construction was completed and the Light and Water Co was anticipated to put 15 arc lights in the business section of town as well.