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Council Backs Sandy Hook School Sewer Hook-Up

BY STEVE BIGHAM

The Sandy Hook School septic system on Dickinson Drive failed back in February

and its septic tank has had to be pumped three or four times a week ever

since. The problem won't go away until the school is connected to the town's

sewer system.

To hook up the school will cost an estimated $100,000 -- a cost Newtown may be

able to pay for using Local Capital Improvement (LOCIP) money. LOCIP funds are

made up mostly of state sales taxes.

The Legislative Council Wednesday voted to put the sewer hook-up on its

Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), which now makes the project eligible for LOCIP

funding.

The Board of Selectmen also endorsed the proposed project at its Monday

meeting.

According to Public Works Director Fred Hurley, a 1,000-foot sewer line will

be used to connect the school to Washington Avenue via Crestwood Drive, which

is located behind the school.

The town's initial sewer plans had included connecting Sandy Hook School to

the sewer system, but cost constraints scaled back the size of the town sewer

system, meaning the school was excluded from sewer service.

Both the nearby Sandy Hook firehouse and senior center are linked to the

system.

The 6,000 gallon septic tank at the school is about 10 years old and beyond

repair, according to Dom Posca, the school system's head of maintenance and

grounds. It is believed to have failed due to ground conditions around the

school. The area is noted for its high water table and poor drainage, Mr

Hurley said.

With the impending hook-up of Sandy hook School, four of the six public

schools in Newtown will be connected to the sewer system.

At a high cost, the town had been carting the Sandy Hook School sewage out of

town. However, it is now taking it to the town sewage treatment facility.

In 1997, the town began operating a $32.5 million municipal sewer system in

Sandy Hook center, the borough, and in the area of Taunton Lake north. It is

designed to rectify widespread, longstanding ground water pollution problems

caused by failing septic systems.