Connecticut Water Opens New Regional Facility in Vernon

VERNON, CT — Connecticut Water Company on Wednesday, along with state and local leaders, celebrated the recent completion of the company’s new Rockville Water Treatment Facility.

The new facility off Snipsic Street on was constructed at a cost of more than $30 million and is part of a public drinking water system that serves 85,000 people in 10 north central Connecticut communities. It can handle up to 12 million gallons a day for the area's drinking supply and has a life expectancy of 50 years, officials said.

David C. Benoit, Connecticut Water’s president and CEO, said, “This new Rockville Facility will provide a reliable supply of safe drinking water for families, communities and for public fire protection for decades to come. We are proud of our employees and our construction partners that were able to construct this facility on time and on budget, and we value the great cooperation we had from the Connecticut Department of Public Health Drinking Water Supplies Section in reviewing and approving plans.”

Benoit further noted, “The construction of this facility is consistent with our strategy of delivering value and growth through investments in our systems.”

The facility was dedicated to utility employees with a water toast. The water comes from the 5-billion-gallong Shenipsit Lake Reservoir.

“This type of infrastructure investment needs to be recognized and celebrated, as water safety and quality are essential to the people of this state,” said Governor Dannel P. Malloy. “A private utility company willingly making an investment of more than $30 million to improve the water for 85,000 customers and the environment aligns with our draft comprehensive state water plan by preserving and ensuring the safety and quality of our natural resources. These investments result in both short-term and long-term dividends, and Connecticut Water Company should be applauded for doing what is right.”

Also speaking at the event were Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) Vice Chairman John W. Betoski III; Raul Pino, commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Public Health; Office of Consumer Counsel Elin Katz; Vernon Mayor Daniel Champagne; and Maureen P. Westbrook, Connecticut Water’s vice president of Customer and Regulatory Affairs. In attendance were Michael Caron; commissioner of PURA; and state Sen. Tony Guglielmo; state representatives Sam Belsito, Michael Winkler and Tim Ackert.

Champagne read a welcoming proclamation.

The newly upgraded facility replaces a treatment facility that first went into service in 1970. The new facility enhances treatment, increases capacity, provides greater energy and operating efficiencies, improves reliability, and drives significant environmental benefits compared with the former plant.

In addition to providing customer and environmental benefits, construction of the new facility "boosted the state’s economy," Malloy said. He cited about a dozen Connecticut manufacturers and service providers that supplied materials or services for the construction of the new facility.

Connecticut Water is a subsidiary of Connecticut Water Service Inc. Connecticut Water serves 93,000 customers or about 350,000 people in 56 communities across Connecticut. The company has been providing clean, safe drinking water since its founding in 1956.

Photo Credit: Chris Dehnel