For The Record

To the Editor:

Jim Gaston’s May 4 letter to the editor [“Water Agreement Strengthened Newtown’s Hand,” 5/6/11] contains misrepresentations regarding United Water’s plan to provide a safe, reliable water supply to its customers in Greenridge. It is time that the record is set straight.

Fiction: “…the process started more than a year ago when unexpectedly United Water called and stated the next week they were extending a water line to Greenridge.”

Fact: United Water met with town representatives and submitted plans for approval as requested by the town in October 2009.

Fiction: United Water “planned to install a monstrous-looking electrical box right in front of Town Hall South.”

Fact: The box is hardly monstrous looking and United Water accommodated the request made by the borough to move the box to a more discreet location.

Fiction: “UW cared little about the impact to the Pootatuck using outdated studies.”

Fact: All studies are current and were used in testimony at public hearings. These same studies were reviewed by the Department of Public Health when evaluating and eventually approving our plan. State regulators commended United Water for its thorough investigation of all options to remediate this issue.

Fiction: “One goal was to position the town to become a participant in the process, something that UW fought against vigorously.”

Fact: United Water has always welcomed the opportunity to discuss the project with any and all interested parties.

Fiction: “Main Street not being ripped up with laterals and only patched in zebra stripes...”

Fact: United Water was instructed by the state to pave the entire road from the beginning to the end of the project. In the event that street disturbances exceeded the double yellow line, United Water would be required to pave the entire road.

Fiction: “UW by rather dubious means added Greenridge into its ESA [extended service area].”

Fact: United Water followed all rules in its acquisition of the Greenridge ESA and the Connecticut Department of Health was present in these meetings.

United Water was ordered to acquire the Greenridge system not only because of its proximity to existing operations, but as we believe, because we are a responsible water provider with the means and expertise to correct a long-lasting water quality issue in that system. Levels of radionuclides that exceed safe drinking water standards are simply not acceptable to the Brookfield and Newtown residents in Greenridge. They deserve a safe, healthy supply of water.

The plan to interconnect to United Water’s nearby, Newtown system is the most feasible solution to the problem. It is more cost-efficient than treatment and would not interfere with Newtown residents’ supply. There is simply more than enough water to supply an additional 229 customers and Newtown for many years to come.

Our thanks go to Newtown First Selectman Pat Llodra, Brookfield First Selectman Bill Davidson, and the Borough of Newtown for helping to arrive at this agreement. We look forward to our continued service in Newtown and Greenridge and providing high-quality water to all our customers, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Steve Houst

Manager, United Water Connecticut

110 Kent Road, New Milford                                            May 24, 2011