AGENDA ITEM
CORRESPONDENCE
Subject:
title
Water Pollution Control Authority e-mail dated January 25, 2023 re: Response to Southeastern Connecticut Water Authority (SCWA) Chairman January 19, 2023 Report pertaining to a requested 150-foot radius easement around the SCWA well that would come onto town property where the Route 117 Ledyard Center Water Storage Tank was located.
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Correspondence Background:
Water Pollution Control Authority e-mail dated January 25, 2023 - Joint Meeting between WPCA and SCWA.
Town Council 1/25/2023 Meeting;
During Councilor Saums WPCA Liaison Report he noted the following:
Southeastern Connecticut Water Authority (SCWA) Request - The WPCA reviewed and discussed a request from SCWA in which they talked about a new SCWA Ledyard Division Well that would be located across the street from the Ledyard Center Water Storage Tank. Councilor Saums read an excerpt from the SCWA Chairman’s Report as follows:
“….B. Upgrades at the Ledyard Pump Station and Spicer Hill Booster Station
This project includes installation of variable frequency pumps (VFDs) at the Ledyard Pump Station and the Spicer Hill Booster Station, which is part of the Ledyard distribution system. This project also includes the elimination of the hydropneumatic pressure tanks at both stations, which is a top priority for DPH. SCWA intended to request bids in August, but unfortunately, the pump manufacturer stated there is now a 6-month lead time for delivery of the VFD packages. Based on long-lead times for delivery, and escalating prices for the VFDs, SCWA plans to install the pumps using in-house labor in the spring, with the assistance of a certified plumber and electrician.
C. New Well at Ledyard Division
During the drought last summer SCWA realized an additional well is necessary at the Ledyard pump station because the summer usage was averaging between 30 to 40 thousand gallons/day. 40,000 gallons/day is the maximum allowable yield of the two existing wells at Ledyard Division. The application for a new well was submitted to the Department of Public Health (DPH) in September and SCWA received approval in November. SCWA is now working with the Town of Ledyard to obtain an easement because the State requires that SCWA control a 150-foot radius around each well.
Councilor Saums stated the required 150-foot radius around the SCWA well would come onto town property where the Route 117 Ledyard Center Water Storage Tank was located. Therefore, he stated the question was why the Department of Public Health (DPH) would approve an expansion of SCWA’s existing failing well in the shadow of Ledyard’s Water Storage Tank.
D. Tower Division Upgrades
The project to replace the original water main leading from the Tower Division pump stations to the main distribution located on East Drive was completed in December 2022. Throughout the two-week project water was provided through the backup water main, completed in 2021, using the trailer mounted mobile pump station constructed several years ago.
Councilor Saums went on to note in their report, SCWA stated that they were working with the Town of Ledyard to request a 150-foot radius easement over Town-owned property to support a new well for their Ledyard Center system. He stated the WPCA discussed, and
then approved a motion to recommend that the Town Council disapprove SCWA request for an easement over Town land, which would include the Route 117 Water Storage Tank in Ledyard Center. He stated the WPCA noted multiple reasons for their recommendation to deny SCWA’s easement request as follows: (a) SCWA already had an interconnection with WPCA to purchase water to sell to their customer; (b) SCWA has never cooperated with WPCA on exclusive service area requests, (c) Because Ledyard’s WPCA’s system has better capability to serve future development in the area, (d) The WPCA did not see any point in in expanding a system with such limited capabilities; (e) SCWA customers in Ledyard experience frequent water supply issues, (f) SCWA repeatedly excavates town roads - including newly paved roads - to repair leaks on a regular basis, and has not reinvested enough ratepayer funds to replace its aging water mains, which the WPCA believes would be a better use of SCWA’s customers’ money.
Mayor Allyn noted Councilor Saums’ WPCA Report in which he referred to a SCWA Report that stated “SCWA was working with the Town of Ledyard to request a 150-foot radius easement over Town-owned property to support a new well for their Ledyard Center system.” Mayor Allyn stated that he wanted to clarify this statement noting that he has never had any communication with SCWA regarding an easement area, not written, not verbal, not in-person, nothing. He stated he did not know where this statement was coming from, but that it was not based in fact. He stated if he does receive any communications from SCWA regarding this subject that he would let the Town Council know.
Meeting Action Detail:
Land Use/Planning/Public WorksCommittee Meeting 02/06/2023:
File #: 231150 Version: 1
Type: Correspondence
Title: Water Pollution Control Authority e-mail dated January 25, 2023 re: Response to Southeastern Connecticut Water Authority (SCWA) Chairman January 19, 2023 Report pertaining to a requested 150-foot radius easement around the SCWA well that would come onto town property where the Route 117 Ledyard Center Water Storage Tank was located.
Action: Discussed
Minute Note:
Chairman Dombrowski stated he asked that this communication be included on tonight’ s LUPPW Committee agenda for informational purposes only. He noted during the Town Council’s January 25, 2023 meeting Councilor Saums, Water Pollution Control Authority (WPCA) Liaison, reported that the WPCA reviewed a request from Southeastern Connecticut Water Authority (SCWA) in which they discussed SCWA’s New Ledyard Division Well that would be located across the street from the Ledyard Center Water Storage Tank, and would require 150-foot radius around the SCWA well, which would come onto town property.
Chairman Dombrowski went onto state that Councilor Saums also reported that the WPCA questioned why the Department of Public Health (DPH) would approve an expansion of SCWA’s existing failing well in the shadow of Ledyard’s Water Storage Tank. Therefore, the WPCA approved a motion to recommend the Town Council disapprove SCWA’s request for an easement over Town land, for the following reasons:
• SCWA already had an interconnection with the WPCA to purchase water to sell to their customers.
• SCWA has never cooperated with the WPCA on exclusive service area requests.
• Because Ledyard’s WPCA’s system has better capability to serve future development in the area.
• The WPCA did not see any point in in expanding a SCWA System with such limited capabilities.
• SCWA customers in Ledyard experience frequent water supply issues.
• SCWA repeatedly excavates town roads - including newly paved roads - to repair leaks on a regular basis.
• SCWA has not reinvested enough ratepayer funds to replace its aging water mains, which the WPCA believed would be a better use of SCWA’s customers’ money.
Chairman Dombrowski went on to note that during the Town Council’s January 25, 2023 meeting that Mayor Allyn stated that he has never had any communication with SCWA regarding an easement area, not written, not verbal, not in-person; and that the Mayor stated he did not know where this statement was coming from, but that it was not based in fact.
Chairman Dombrowski concluded his comments by noting in a subsequent e-mail dated January 27, 2023 WPCA Chairman Ed Lynch requested a joint meeting between the WPCA And SCWA. He stated although the WPCA has recommended the Town Council disapprove SCWA’s request for an easement over Town land; at this time there was no action on the part of Town Council required.
Councilor Rodriguez stated that a joint meeting between the WPCA and SCWA, as Chairman Dombrowski reported, would be a good start, noting it would be an opportunity for both parties to get all the facts together.
Chairman Dombrowski stated should SCWA submit a formal request for an easement that the LUPPW Committee would be involved in the process. Therefore, he stated that he asked that this be included on tonight’s agenda to keep the Committee apprised of the matter.
Action: Discussed