Aug 10, 2007
Redding
Group is preparing legislation
to protect state’s drinking water
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by SUSAN WOLF
pilot@thereddingpilot.com
Mutual concerns about the effect of cumulative development on public drinking water supply land have several officials and environmental groups looking for a solution.
First Selectman Natalie Ketcham, along with Ridgefield First Selectman Rudy Marconi, recently met to discuss ways to offer more protection to watershed lands. The Saugatuck, Norwalk and Aspetuck watersheds lie within Redding’s borders.
“This is a statewide issue,” said Ms. Ketcham, adding that the group is working on legislation to propose to the General Assembly’s next session.
The impetus for the effort came after a presentation at the Saugatuck River Watershed Partnership meeting in June. At that meeting, said Ms. Ketcham, Dick Harris of Harbor Watch/River Watch talked about his group’s study, which found the head of the Saugatuck River is protected by Redding land use policies. The water here is clean, but Mr. Harris said as the water goes down the river and picks up various developments, its quality degrades, Ms. Ketcham said.
This is a concern, said Ms. Ketcham, because when projects are proposed in watershed areas, local land use agencies may now only judge the application on the local development. “There is no mechanism for a cumulative effects review,” she said.
Everyone at the meeting, she added, “is concerned that if we don’t find some way to review these developments as a whole on our rivers, the quality of Connecticut’s drinking water in the future may be severely degraded.
“Connecticut is one of a few states that doesn’t filter ‘gray’ water into potable drinking water, and we never want to find ourselves in the position of having to do that.”
Those attending last Friday’s meeting at Redding Town Hall were Mr. Marconi and representatives of the state Department of Public Health, the state Department of Environmental Protection, the Aquarion water company, Connecticut Waterworks Association, The Nature Conservancy, and the Regional Water Authority.
Ms. Ketcham called the meeting “productive,” and said each attendee has an assignment before the next meeting at town hall on Aug. 30.
“Once we have legislation consistent with our objectives, we will bring in other interested parties,” said Ms. Ketcham.
© Copyright 2008 by Hersam Acorn Newspapers
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