A Pipeline Overview From Water Commission Chairman

Eugene Koss, the chairman of the Tolland Water Commission has submitted the following commentary on a proposed Connecticut Water Co. regional pipeline:

I appreciate concerns about Shenipsit Lake and availability of healthful and affordable water for Tolland and people in Tolland. I hope with some explanation of process, how water has been provided in Tolland and the oversight from the state, some concerns will be allayed.

The town of Tolland has been in the water supply business for some time and as a regulated water supplier periodically prepares comprehensive Water Supply Plans to meet State requirements. These water supply plans take into account the Town Plan of Conservation and Development and an array of factors including needs in areas not served by water systems. The plans are required to forecast and address needs decades into the future. Other water utilities in Connecticut conduct similar planning.

Tolland has been a water utility business for about three decades. North of I-84, this was due to possible contamination of private wells near the now retired landfill, leading to a town owned water system purchasing water from the Tolland Aqueduct Water System. After Tolland Aqueduct had problems and  the Connecticut Water Company's acquisition of Tolland Aqueduct, Tolland has been purchasing water from CWC.

With the collapse of state-regulated private water systems south of I-84, the Summit Drive and Glen Drive areas, Tolland became involved in addressing this failure.  With assessments to properties, grants and loans financed by customers, a new water supply was created starting in the early 1980's.  As times progressed this system was extended. In cases this was to respond to new problems. For example, with possible gasoline-related contamination of private wells near Merrow Road, Goose Lane and Rhodes Road, the water system, it was determined that the water system should be extended to meet the need for safe potable water.

Given the Town's, now the Water Commission's, responsibilities, there has been knowledge of water supply conditions and problems elsewhere. And it has been clear there were water supply concerns in Mansfield. It is not a surprise that options to address these concerns would include water from other towns and areas. 

When Connecticut Water approached the Water Commission about cooperating on a possible solution to problems in Mansfield some years ago, it was not unexpected. From a Tolland perspective, the Water Commission was willing to discuss the possibility of sharing Tolland water system assets and assets the Connecticut Water would construct in Tolland if it would result in better, more-cost efficient service and benefits to present and future Tolland Water Systems customers and the town. There were extensive negotiations.

In May 2011, an agreement was reached. The agreement and infrastructure that will be constructed provide tangible economic and operating as well as substantial reliability benefits to the Tolland Water Systems. 

I apologize about the length of this effort to respond to concerns about Shenipsit Lake and water for people in Tolland and nearby. Unfortunately the topic involves many factors and there is much, much detail.

Issues such as these do not lend themselves to yes or no answers. And water has been getting more expensive over time. Others have pointed out aging infrastructure, concerns about contaminants and other factors are leading to expensive additions to water systems.

For the proposed supplies to UConn, the systems and estimated costs are identified. UConn's website has the Environmental Impact Evaluation and related documents. The documents evaluated by UConn's experts include the proposal and detailed backup. CWC's plans are detailed as are the MDC's and others. I think every question I have heard has an answer. But, if I recall correctly, the answers are in thousands of pages.  he EIE Executive Summary has 12 pages, if I have it correctly, and the Table of Contents has 23 pages. The proposals are detailed, the analysis by the consultants is comprehensive.  

I hope I have helped.