Sediment, possibly from Fairfield Hills, may have washed into a Deep Brook tributary, Land Use officials learned Monday, October 20.

Residents walking through the Deep Brook Preserve — land near where Deep Brook runs below Trades Lane behind Reed Intermediate School — first noticed something in the storm water system, confirmed recently resigned Conservation Commission member Joe Hovious (see related Letter to the Editor this week). His letter talks about “yet another release from the Fairfield Hills storm water system into Deep Brook.”

Land Use Director George Benson also received notice about “siltation” where a system of runoff pipes carry water away from Fairfield Hills. He said they sampled the water, and should have results of the analysis early this week. He said, “No spill was involved, it wasn’t toxic.” Mr Benson said silt in the water “could be related to recent rainfall.”

Much activity to the infrastructure and buildings has taken place at Fairfield Hills in past years, the most recent of which was the demolition of Danbury Hall earlier this month. New construction includes the Newtown Volunteer Ambulance garage that held its grand opening on October 18 and 19 — both locations are near the corner of the Wasserman Way and Trades Lane, the main entrance to Fairfield Hills, and just slightly uphill from the location where residents saw something in the water.

Wednesday, Mr Benson met with Public Works Director Fred Hurley and they both feel there are “a few areas we have to stabilize under the Danbury Hall site,” Mr Benson said. Regarding possible sediment in the water, he said, “We are not sure of the cause, but we’re trying to remedy possible sources.” They are also assessing the old stormwater system and looking at old drawings “from years ago,” he said, noting that there are sump pumps along the way from Fairfield Hills, across Wasserman Way, past the Second Company Governor’s Horse Guard, and headed toward Deep Brook. Public Works is going to look at and clean the system “and we are trying to stop all possible sources” of sediment, Mr Benson said.

While water runoff from Fairfield Hills campus is “supposed to go” where it flows behind Reed, Mr Benson mentioned a need to “evaluate the whole water system at Fairfield Hills.”

Mr Hovious would also like to see assessments of campus water flow, especially considering the amount of activity there with infrastructure work, new construction, and building demolition.

Something in the water is a “continuing issue,” Mr Hovious said. He also thinks that a closer look at the runoff and stormwater flowing from Fairfield Hills is “necessary.” Old diagrams show parking lot drains, roof runoff, and more comes down and right into Deep Brook, he said. Something that happens up in a parking lot “comes right on down,” he said.

Conservation Commission Chair Ann Astarita also learned of the silt, and is concerned about what may be in the water. She notes the water highs and lows as recorded at the National Water Information System website (waterdata.usgs.gov). The website includes information from water sampling sites on Newtown. An image at water-data.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?site_no=01203510 shows a graph with a spike in water levels on October 16 in the Pootatuck River at Sandy Hook, but the waters were lowest on October 20.

Mr Hovious and Ms Astarita both thanked dog walkers and others who take the time to report anything unusual.

Deep Brook is one of only nine Class One trout streams in the state with the cold, clean water necessary for a healthy trout habitat.

Anyone who is involved in or witnesses an enviromental emergency is asked to contact Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s Emergency Response Unit 24 hours a day at 866-DEP-SPIL (866-337-7745) or 860-424-3338. Should these numbers be unavailable for any reason, call 860-424-3333.