Regulators Endorse Aquarion Water Supply For Greenridge

By Andrew Gorosko

In a draft decision issued October 14, state regulators decided that the Aquarion Water Company’s proposal for supplying safe drinking water to the 230-home Greenridge residential development in Brookfield from a source within Brookfield is a better alternative than having United Water extend its Newtown-based public water supply system to Greenridge.

The draft decision is subject to public comment before the state Public Utilities Regulatory Agency (PURA) and the state Department of Public Health (DPH) take final action on the matter.

The existing water supply in Greenridge has long been contaminated with naturally occurring radioactive minerals and thus is unsuitable for consumption due to health concerns.

In April 2010, the state regulators had approved construction plans for United extending its Newtown-based water supply to Greenridge. But after construction started in May 2010, both Town of Newtown and Borough of Newtown officials objected, raising various issues about that project, and asking whether such a water system extension would potentially jeopardize Newtown’s future water supply needs.

The town and borough officials cautioned that a United Water extension to Greenridge would be environmentally unwise because it would amount to transferring water from one watershed into another watershed, potentially depleting the Pootatuck Aquifer and the adjacent Pootatuck River. United’s water supply is drawn from wells in the Pootatuck Aquifer off South Main Street, near Sand Hill Plaza.

In the 17-page draft decision, PURA/DPH writes, “The Aquarion proposal is the best alternative for providing water to the Greenridge water system. This determination was made in reviewing both the United and the Aquarion proposals, the risks involved with each proposal, and the benefits associated with each proposal.”

Aquarion submitted its water system proposal for Greenridge to PURA/DPH in June this year, explaining that its acquisition of some small water companies in Brookfield would make its Greenridge water supply plans possible.

First Selectman Pat Llodra said October 17, “I’m very, very pleased at the draft decision.”

The Town of Newtown’s and Borough of Newtown’s objections to United’s water extension plans eventually made it possible for state regulators to consider the Aquarion alternative, she said.

“I think it’s the best of all possible circumstances…It’s very good for Newtown. I’m very proud that we sustained our effort” in terms of raising issues about United’s water supply extension plans, she said.

“It’s the right decision for Newtown. It’s the right decision for Brookfield,” Mrs Llodra said.

In the draft decision, the regulators write that Aquarion and United should begin construction work immediately.

Aquarion would construct an underground pipeline that would send Aquarion water from a source in Brookfield to Greenridge. Also, United would make certain improvements to its existing water supply network at Greenridge that would be necessary for Greenridge to receive water service from the Aquarion source.

In a recent legal brief filed with PURA/DPH, the Brookfield Board of Selectmen endorsed having Aquarion provide water for Greenridge.

However, a group of Greenridge residents maintains that having United extend its Newtown-based water system to Greenridge is the better alternative and should be approved by state regulators.

PURA/DPH has scheduled oral arguments from parties who oppose the draft decision for October 25 at PURA’s offices in New Britain. PURA/DPH is expected to issue a final decision on the Greenridge case soon thereafter.

George Benson, Newtown’s director of planning and land use, said of the draft decision, “I think it was the right thing to do.” Implementation of the draft decision would eventually result in safe drinking water being provided to yet other people in Brookfield who have problems with contaminated water supplies, he added.

“I can’t think of any downside for Greenridge, at all. Environmentally, it was the best thing to do,” Mr Benson said, adding that the draft decision fits in well with regional water supply planning policies.

Attorney Donald Mitchell, who represents the Borough of Newtown, said, in part, in a statement, “With the recent draft decision by state regulators voiding the prior approvals to United Water and approving the Aquarion Water Company’s plan, all of Newtown’s concerns, save some minor loose ends, have been satisfied.

“While Newtown could ill afford the expense of mounting an effective opposition, it was money well spent. As a result of the entire process, although the ultimate solution was delayed somewhat, Brookfield’s water issues will be more completely and securely resolved under the new plan, according to the regulators, and should be completed on a comparable timetable,” Mr Mitchell added.