Hartford Water and the Importance of Preserving It

The state of Connecticut is a rich one, filled with water, but several events have highlighted the importance of preserving this precious resource. These include the Bloomfield controversy, the Flint water crisis and a couple of incidents that involved the University of Connecticut.

The Drinking Water Collaborative – May 4

On Friday, May 4, a group of Connecticut sources of drinking water came together for a meeting in Middletown to sign a charter for the new organization that will bring their voices to bear on the state’s drinking water issues. Among other things, the Collaborative plans to address water conservation and treatment.

The Drinking Water Collaborative is made up of representatives from local drinking water companies, municipal officials and academics who have joined forces to create an action plan for improving the quality of the water they all supply. This includes developing a state-wide water management plan, creating an education campaign about the importance of clean, safe drinking water and improving the efficiency of water distribution.

This organization will also focus on educating citizens about Hartford water  how to prevent waterborne diseases. Its members are drawn from the public health, environmental, engineering and legal communities, along with water treatment experts.

Aquarion – Greenwich, Stamford and Darien, CT

The towns of Greenwich, Stamford and Darien have been forced to declare a 30-day water supply emergency by the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH). This comes as a result of drought conditions and lack of precipitation forecast for the future.

As the water crisis continues, DPH has been working closely with the Westchester County and New York State health departments to ensure that an adequate supply of drinking water remains available for all residents in these towns. In addition to the emergency declaration, the Commissioner of DPH has issued a rarely used Commissioner’s Order for AWC that allows them to divert water from other sources of supply to these towns.

Despite the water shortages, residents are not without access to great-tasting, clean drinking water. The state’s water comes from a system of rivers and streams that provide the source for many municipal water systems. It is treated or finished at a variety of facilities throughout the state before it is served to consumers.

For example, in the city of Hartford, the water comes from Reservoir No. 1, a reservoir that is located on the banks of Farmington River. The water is then processed using coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation and carbon filtration to remove suspended solids that could cause unpleasant tastes and odors. In addition, lime is added to adjust ph, sodium hypochlorite disinfects and fluoride is added for dental health.

This water is then delivered to you through a network of pipes, pumps and storage tanks. It is tested regularly by state-certified laboratories and is considered safe for consumption.

There are a number of private wells in the area and homeowners should have their water tested annually. Those homes that do not have their water tested by a certified lab should get water tested at a licensed laboratory as soon as possible.