One of the unique strengths at Sevee & Maher Engineers (SME) is having professionals who don’t just collaborate across disciplines but actually hold multiple licenses themselves. That’s especially true with Andrew Gobeil, LG, PG, LSE, whose combination of credentials is relatively rare in Maine.
What is Andrew’s expertise at SME?
Andrew is a Licensed Site Evaluator (LSE) and a licensed/professional hydrogeologist with more than twenty-five years of hands-on experience analyzing complex soil, groundwater, and geologic conditions for the permitting of subsurface wastewater disposal systems. That overlap is beneficial for clients’ needs for large-scale residential developments, commercial developments, and high-capacity engineered subsurface wastewater disposal systems that require professional hydrogeologic services as well as a Licensed Site Evaluator.
How does a Licensed Site Evaluator and Hydrogeologist help your project?
As Andrew says, “clients are looking for what’s going to move a project forward safely and in a timely manner.” SME has been doing just that when it comes to helping clients with permitting Maine developments for more than 40 years, starting with our co-founder John Sevee and continuing with Andrew.
- There is great value in having a singular professional that can evaluate a site and plan and design subsurface wastewater systems that are not designed in isolation and/or that are large and require additional assessment of a site’s hydrogeology.
- Having a hydrogeologist’s understanding of a site’s groundwater’s flow directions and how fast it moves is essential for understanding what impacts subsurface wastewater systems will have on groundwater quality and where they should be located to ensure a healthful water supply for all area water users.
So, how can SME help with your subsurface wastewater disposal systems?
For real estate developers, this integrated approach can mean clearer feasibility early in the project, less trips to the planning board, fewer redesigns, and wastewater systems that are better matched to site conditions. This is especially true for projects with spatial constraints and parcels with unique environmental constraints.
For municipalities, it provides added confidence that proposed wastewater solutions are protective of groundwater resources and defensible during permitting reviews.
And for engineering firms without in house hydrogeology or LSE expertise, it offers a trusted partner who can support subsurface wastewater evaluations, site assessments, groundwater modeling, and regulatory coordination all through a single, highly qualified professional.
What’s the benefit of working with a multidisciplinary firm?
While many firms rely on handoffs between disciplines, having a partner who understands both the regulatory framework for subsurface wastewater disposal systems and the underlying hydrogeologic science, leads to better designs, smoother permitting, and fewer surprises during all phases of a project.
In a state like Maine, where geology, groundwater sensitivity, and wastewater rules all intersect, this kind of dual expertise isn’t just helpful, it’s a competitive advantage for SME’s clients.