Date: Fri 30-Jul-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

water-line-Sandy-Hook-SHOP

Full Text:

A Water Line For Sandy Hook?

BY ANDREW GOROSKO

Talks are underway concerning a possible public-private venture to extend the

United Water public water supply system down Church Hill Road to Sandy Hook

Center to provide a safe, reliable drinking water supply for public, private

and commercial users.

Town officials and Sandy Hook business people met recently with the water

company to explore the prospects of extending the water system which now

serves approximately 1,100 users and to consider how an extension would be

funded.

The Sandy Hook Organization for Prosperity (SHOP), a business group, has had

meetings with the Economic Development Commission (EDC) regarding a water line

extension, according to Bill McAllister, SHOP's acting president.

Besides providing a safe, reliable drinking water supply, public water service

would provide fire protection, plus stimulate the Sandy Hook economy by

providing water service for eateries, according to Mr McAllister.

Elizabeth Stocker, the town's director of community development, said this

week extending water to Sandy Hook Center has been endorsed by the EDC. A

water system extension conforms with the EDC's plan of economic development,

she said. The main issue is how to pay for a water system extension, she said.

A basic plan would extend water service to the Church Hill Road Bridge which

crosses the Pootatuck River. Such an extension would cost an estimated

$180,000.

The town's interest in extending water service to Sandy Hook concerns

providing a new water supply for Sandy Hook School, the Sandy Hook Firehouse

and the Multipurpose Center, Ms Stocker said.

A rebidding on a construction project intended to extend a sanitary sewer line

to Sandy Hook School via Crestwood Drive includes the installation of water

pipe in Crestwood Drive to serve the school with water. That pipe would remain

unused until water service is extended to Crestwood Drive at some point in the

future.

Fred Hurley, director of public works, said PJF Construction, Inc, of West

Hartford is the apparent low bidder on that project at $97,094. Installing the

water pipe represents $38,765 of the project's cost, he said.

"It's an opportunity for the town to get a utility in place," he said. Mr

Hurley suggested that Crestwood Drive, which is a dirt road, be paved after

the sewer and water lines are installed.

Mr Hurley said he expects that whether water service is extended to Sandy Hook

will be decided in the next six to eight months. The extent of a possible

water system expansion is being considered, he said. A major issue facing the

project is where and how a water line would cross the Pootatuck River to

provide water service to public buildings on the east side of the river, he

said.

Extending water service to Sandy Hook Center is a complex issue involving

public, private and commercial interests, he noted.

Kevin Moran, manager of United Water, said "United Water is more than willing

to work with all the parties to make this happen."

"That whole area is just a prime candidate for (public) water," he said.

Normally a single developer wants an extension of water system service, so

that developer picks up the full cost of the extension work. The Homesteads at

Newtown, a 298-unit elderly housing complex planned for Hawleyville, will pay

to have United Water extend service to its site near the Bethel town line.

If funding for Sandy Hook a water extension project was readily available,

United Water could have water service in Sandy Hook Center by late this year

or early next year, Mr Moran said.

There are no definite figures yet on how much money the various parties are

willing to contribute to extend water service to Sandy Hook Center, he said.

First Selectman Herbert Rosenthal said Thursday he is awaiting information

from SHOP on how much Sandy Hook businesses are willing to provide toward a

water system extension project. After receiving the information, the selectmen

will discuss the matter, he added.

"It appears there would be some justification for it," Mr Rosenthal said.

Sandy Hook School has had a lack of water for many years, he said. The

Multipurpose Center receives its water supply from the school, he added. The

Sandy Hook Firehouse has had water contamination problems in the past which

are being corrected by water filtration devices, he said.

"There are some valid reasons for pursuing this," the first selectman said.

It is unclear how much money the town would be willing to contribute toward a

water system extension, Mr Rosenthal said.

SHOP has suggested that the town pick up two-thirds of water extension costs

and that Sandy Hook businesses assume the remainder.