Town Approves New Aquifer Protection Rules

By Andrew Gorosko

The town’s Aquifer Protection Agency (APA) has unanimously approved a set of land use regulations intended to environmentally protect geographical areas which lie relatively near the wellheads for local public water supplies.

Following discussion among its members, the APA approved the regulations at a session earlier this month. The panel had held a public hearing on the then-proposed rules in August.

The APA’s membership is the same as that of the town’s Inland Wetlands Commission (IWC). The APA works to protect the quality of underground sources of drinking water.

The town has had a set of aquifer protection rules, known as the Aquifer Protection District (APD) zoning regulations, in effect for more than decade. The new rules, known as the Aquifer Protection Area Regulations, will be in force locally in addition to the longstanding APD regulations.

The new rules will affect a much smaller area than the APD regulations cover, affecting less than ten percent of the geographical area that the APD rules cover.

The new aquifer rules focus on three areas near the public supply water wellheads. Those three wells draw water from the Pootatuck Aquifer, which is the town’s sole source aquifer. That aquifer is situated along the Pootatuck River.

One irregularly shaped wellhead protection area, which is based on the location of United Water’s wells along South Main Street, lies in south-central Newtown.

Two other irregularly shaped wellhead protection areas, which are based on the location of the Newtown Water Department’s wells, lie generally south of the Exit 11 interchange of Interstate 84, in the area along Wasserman Way, Nunnawauk Road, and Toddy Hill Road.

The new rules cover the handling of toxic substances, an activity which could potentially contaminate public water supply wells.

The new rules pertain to businesses such automotive repair garages, car washes, and dry cleaning firms that perform their dry cleaning on the premises. Few local businesses will be affected by the new aquifer rules, perhaps six to 12 firms. The town will inform the businesses affected by the rules.

Locally, there generally are not highly developed areas near the three public water supply wellheads.

The state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) adopted a set of maps in January 2011 that depict the areas in Newtown that are covered by the new rules. The new rules are very similar to a set of model regulations which the state has promulgated.

The new aquifer rules have been in the works for more than 20 years. Residential land uses are exempted from the rules.

According to the rules, aquifers provide a major source of public drinking water. The use of aquifers for drinking water is expected to increase as the population expands and the prospect of new surface reservoirs diminishes due to the rising cost of land and increasingly intensive development.

“[Aquifer] protection requires coordinated responsibilities shared by the state, municipality, and water companies to ensure a plentiful supply of public drinking water for present and future generations,” according to the rules.