Some Mystic Sump Pump Owners Could Face $100-A-Day Fines

MYSTIC, CT—Fines of $100 a day are possible for some Mystic property owners who fail to disconnect their sump pumps from the Mystic sewer system by Sept. 30, The Day reports.

The Stonington Water Pollution Control Authority placed announced a moratorium on new connections to the near-capacity Mystic wastewater treatment plant in early June. A planned study this fall is slated to see if there are "illegal discharges into the system" and "eliminate them."

In the meantime, it's reported, in a letter to property owners, the WPCA asked for cooperation from business and home-owners in downtown Mystic where following heavy rainfalls, flooding is not uncommon. The letter said that overflow doesn't need treatment but nonetheless flows into the sewer system and is "mixed with sewage" and while it's understood that some may be "unaware of the high amount of water these sump pumps add to the flows to the treatment facility," it lessens capacity and increases costs.

An amnesty program was created for people who contact the WPCA by the end of September and those who do not and are found to have "an illegal connection will be ordered to remove it." And fines of $100 a day are possible.

Property owners should contact the WPCA at (860) 535-5065 if they're unsure if their pumps are connected to the sewer system.