To the Editor:

Are you aware of the “Looming Water Crisis” in parts of Newtown (and Bethel) served by Aquarion, and that a water moratorium has been in place since the August 18, 2024, flood, including bans on any new water system connections (all the more reason for P&Z to implement a town-wide temporary moratorium on new development applications) and a ban on watering grass?

Recently, P&Z cited lack of water access ... a serious public health concern … As one of the reasons for denying the application to build 136 apartments next to the High School.

Curiously, when a commissioner raised this public health concern to the rest of the Borough’s Zoning Commission before they voted to approve building a private luxury community of 99 cluster homes, swimming pool, etc on Castle Hill, she was ignored. Shortly after that irresponsible vote, I asked Newtown’s first selectman to see a copy of a letter that Aquarion sent to him and to the Bethel 1st Selectman last September regarding what they referred to as a “Looming Water Crisis”.

His response was that he didn’t recall any such letter. It was only after I obtained and shared Bethel’s copy of the same letter as part of a formal Freedom of Information Act request, that his memory was jarred enough to share the copy he was sent.

The letter talks about how one of Newtown’s two public water supply wells will remain offline until after the Housatonic Railroad Company repairs serious damages they sustained in the flood. It goes on to talk about the moratoria and to ask for his help in working together with the railroad to expedite repairs.

I’m guessing that Aquarion decided to send letters only to the first selectman because going public with a “Looming Water Crisis” would not bode well for the acquisition deal they were negotiating at the time.

But while Aquarion has a fiduciary responsibility to its shareholders, Newtown’s First Selectman is duty bound to the residents of Newtown. I know it’s easy to be consumed by the budget process and discussions about recycling programs, but shouldn’t access to water be a priority too? It’s been more than five months since he received and filed Aquarion’s letter away.

Were you informed of our “Looming Water Crisis” or that you cannot water your lawn? Was the letter shared with the Fire Department? How about the Land Use, Building or Zoning Officials in Newtown and in the Borough? Was it shared with the Board of Selectmen or the Legislative Council?

Apparently, after waiting for a response for five-plus months, Aquarion sent a follow-up letter this month. Newtown deserves better … and we deserve water. We are technically still in a drought and growing season is here again. Will the First Selectman acknowledge and act on our “Looming Water Crisis this time?

Dave Ackert

Sandy Hook