Water Agreement

Strengthened Newtown’s Hand

To the Editor:

Ninety-five percent of the time I agree with The Bee’s editorial; this time, my view differs. In my opinion, Newtown and the borough are better off with the agreement presented to the Department of Public Health (DPH) and Department Public Utility Commission (DPUC) than without it, plain and simple.

Here are some additional facts: 1) the process started more than a year ago when unexpectedly United Water (UW) called and stated the next week they were extending a water line to Greenridge; 2) UW planned to install a monstrous-looking electrical box right in front of Town Hall South; 3) UW cared little about the impact to the Pootatuck using outdated studies; 4) the town hardly had a hand to play as aquifers and water rights are owned by the state; 5) the DPH order was already in place; and 6) the legal challenge against the state and UW involved a possible issue with the Borough’s Historic District and Zoning Commission…an expensive rear guard delaying action, at best.

If this were a game of poker, the town had no pair, the borough a pair of twos. Not particularly strong hands, but something. One goal was to position the town to become a participant in the process, something that UW fought against vigorously. In fact, it is rather unprecedented that the town and borough actually became participants in the process with DPH and DPUC unprecedentedly staying the procedure with the help of our legislators.

Now, after a year of battling we have, 1) Newtown sitting at the table regarding any potential expansion of the Greenridge line; 2) a $30,000 environmental impact study of the Pootatuck disclosing present and future impact as to any Greenridge line expansion — the terms of the study were laid out by our land use department; 3) Main Street not being ripped up with laterals and only patched in zebra stripes, instead, depressurized pumps will be installed behind individual connections, at the cost to United Water; 4) Newtown already alleging ulterior motives for the 12-inch pipe such that if the pipe is used for purposes other than alternative water sources the town’s credibility will be enhanced before DPH and DPUC; 5) and the town and borough maintaining the right to bring legal actions and pursue DPH and DPUC intervention regarding expansion beyond the 240 homes in the Greenridge area.

In essence, Newtown secured the diversion plan that UW, with the assistance of DEP’s statutory misinterpretation (in my opinion), wished to avoid. (When water from one basin is transferred to another a comprehensive diversion plan study is required — except in a company’s own extended service area (ESA). UW by rather dubious means added Greenridge into its ESA.) The USGS, the environmental and follow-up ecological/wildlife impact studies will tell us what we need to know to assess future expansion (there is no question that the present wells can amply support the Greenridge homes.) Our hand is now strengthened for the future challenge.

Thank you.

Jim Gaston

18 Main Street, Newtown                                                   May 4, 2011