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Col 2, Depth P2.06 I0.42 GENNEWS SET 10/15: WASSERMAN ANNOUNCES MEMBERS OF

WATER RESOURCE TASK FORCE

State Representative Julia Wasserman has announced the members of the Water

Resources Task Force, which will study the impact of land development on

available water resources and recommend guidelines for "sensitive areas" to

the 1997 legislative session.

"Members of the Water Resources Task Force include representatives from all

facets of the development and regulatory community and offer the highest

levels of expertise in each area of specialization," said Rep Wasserman.

On-Site Wells

In many areas throughout the state, on-site wells are the only means to

establish domestic water to individual homes.

"As many towns do not require on-site water supply tests until after local

planning, zoning and conservation commissions have already permitted a new

development, local agencies have no regulatory mechanism to ensure that future

homeowners and their existing neighbors will have adequate water supply after

new construction is completed," said Rep Wasserman.

"Often the impact of new residential developments and the installation of new

wells on adjacent neighborhoods is not known until after the homes are

constructed and occupied. Even then, it is typically extremely difficult to

connect changes in well performance with new development," she said.

In response to these concerns, Rep Wasserman, in conjunction with other

representatives, formed the task force. The task force began assembling the

diverse group of experts in June, with the goal of producing a final report by

year end.

"This task force provides a great opportunity to give local regulatory

commissions guidelines to adequately deal with the issue of water supply

impacts, with the goal of protecting both existing and future homeowners,"

said Rep Wasserman. "Far too often, a residential development is completely

constructed, and no well drilling occurs until just prior to occupancy. This

practice precludes the ability to assess development impact during the

planning stages."

Recently, the task force prepared and distributed a survey to all health

directors throughout the state in an effort to determine patterns of problem

areas, which can be attributed to geology, development density, topography or

other relevant features.

Evaluating Wells

According to task force member Robert Huttemann, the number of fractures in

certain geological formations have long been assumed to provide greater

probability for obtaining water. Based on a US geological survey conducted in

North Carolina, Mr Hutteman said that a sophisticated data management system

has been designed for Connecticut to greatly improve the methods for

evaluating subsurface water.

He said that over 43,700 wells in Fairfield and Litchfield Counties, including

3,000 in Newtown, are capable of digital evaluation, the highest density of

well data ever assembled in Connecticut. Preliminary results strongly suggest

Col 3, Depth P93.04 I15.56 that some areas produce significantly more ground

water than others, due to localized fractures (although there are exceptions).

"We are now trying to field locate these wells to install on a computer system

so that we may better determine the relationship between geology and yield,"

he said. "With current technology, personnel and funding, the potential for

subsurface geological and hydrological research may be at its highest level

ever in the state of Connecticut," Mr Huttemann said.

Ultimately, the task force will provide towns with guidelines to identify

sensitive areas for groundwater supply, so that future development

applications can include adequate testing and evaluation of potential impact,

and, if necessary, require measures to mitigate the impact.

"Where statutes do no clearly authorize towns to follow such practices, the

task force may recommend enabling legislation," said Rep Wasserman.

The task force includes Fred S. Banach, PE, Connecticut Department of

Environmental Protection, division of watershed management and planning;

attorney T. Mark Barbieri, Fallon Barbieri & Gilcreast, Attorneys at Law,

Enfield; Mark Cooper, director of health, Newtown; State Rep Jefferson B.

Davis, first selectman, Pomfret; Lawrence Fiano, Home Builders Association of

CT, Inc, Bolton; F. Peter Haeni, chief hydrologist, US Department of Interior,

Hartford; Robert W. Huttemann, ground water researcher, Robert Huttemann Water

Systems, Brookfield; State Rep Robert A. Landino, PE, civil Engineer, Barakos,

Landino Design Group, Hamden; James MacBroom, PE, civil engineer, vice

president, Milone & MacBroom Incorporated, Cheshire; Paul Marin, professional

cartographer, Marin Environmental, Inc, Haddam; Paul M. Schur, director,

division of environmental health, Department of Public Health Services,

Hartford; J. Jeffrey Starn, water resources division, US Geological Survey,

Hartford; and State Rep Julia B. Wasserman, former director of health, New

Fairfield.

Col 4, Depth P61.08 I10.28