Water Quality—

Agency Considers New Aquifer Protection Rules

By Andrew Gorosko

Town Aquifer Protection Agency (APA) members are reviewing a proposed set of land use regulations intended to environmentally protect geographical areas that lie relatively near the wellheads for local public water supplies.

The APA, whose membership is the same as the town’s Inland Wetlands Commission (IWC), conducted a public hearing on the proposed aquifer rules on August 22.

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 would be in addition to the existing rules.

The proposed aquifer regulations would 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 proposed 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 near 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 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.

Rob Sibley, town deputy director of planning and land use, said August 30 that the proposed aquifer rules would cover a variety of land uses that could potentially contaminate public water supply wells due to the toxic substances that are handled.

For example, such land uses would include automotive repair businesses, car washes, and dry cleaning firms that perform their dry cleaning on the premises.

Mr Sibley said that few local businesses would be affected by the proposed aquifer rules, perhaps six to 12 firms. Mr Sibley noted that locally there 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 would be covered by the proposed rules.

The town rules proposed by the APA are very similar to a set of model regulations that the state has promulgated, Mr Sibley said.

The aquifer rules now under consideration by the APA have been in the works for more than 20 years, he noted. Residential land uses are exempted from the proposed rules.

If the proposed rules are approved by the APA, the town would then mail notices concerning the new regulations to the firms affected by the rules, Mr Sibley said.

According to the proposed 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 rationale for the proposed rules.

 The APA concluded its public hearing on August 22. The agency may act on the proposed rules on September 12.