Water

Sound pollution problems go far beyond Connecticut

Apr 22nd, 2012 | By
Sound pollution problems go far beyond Connecticut

Numerous sewage treatment plants throughout New England are at maximum capacity and overflow during periods of heavy rain, sending untreated sewage into Long Island Sound. Millions of people live in New England and Long Island. Heavy rain storms such as Irene have caused scores of sewage treatment plants to overflow, sending untreated waste down to
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Watershed Association Testifies In Support Of Federal Protection For Pawcatuck River

Apr 22nd, 2012 | By
Watershed Association Testifies In Support Of Federal Protection For Pawcatuck River

The Wood-Pawcatuck Protection Act seeks to provide funding for protection of the Pawcatuck River and other streams in Connecticut and Rhode Island, the Associated Press reports, and an official with the Watershed Association spoke in support of the legislation on Tuesday, April 17.



House passes groundbreaking Sewage Right To Know Act

Apr 20th, 2012 | By
House passes groundbreaking Sewage Right To Know Act

Citizens Campaign for the Environment is applauding the CT House for passing the Sewage Right to Know Act (SB 88) today, which would require the state to notify the public whenever sewage overflows contaminate local waterways and communities.



Senate passes sewage ‘right to know’ act: CCE

Apr 15th, 2012 | By
Senate passes sewage ‘right to know’ act: CCE

Citizens Campaign for the Environment is applauding the CT Senate for passing the Sewage Right to Know Act yesterday, which would require the state to notify the public whenever sewage overflows contaminate local waterways. Click on this environmental headline for more on this story.



Region to Lose Key River Flood Gauge On Connecticut River

Feb 24th, 2012 | By
Region to Lose Key River Flood Gauge On Connecticut River

A crucial flood monitoring system used for 46 years on the Connecticut River in Middletown was shut down Friday because of a lack of federal funding, according to a meteorologist from the National Weather Service.



Blumenthal says L.I. Sound should be marine refuge

Feb 12th, 2012 | By
Blumenthal says L.I. Sound should be marine refuge

Long Island Sound should become the 14th National Marine Sanctuary, Sen. Richard Blumenthal said Friday, joining areas such as the Stellwagen Bank off Massachusetts Bay and the Florida Keys in a special protected status for ecological and cultural resources.



Malloy proposes eliminating 25 state boards and commissions

Feb 7th, 2012 | By

“For example, the Quinebaug & Shetucket Rivers National Heritage Corridor Advisory Committee completed its required mission over a decade ago but it’s still in our statute books. The tasks of the Bi-State Farmington River Watershed Advisory Committee are being performed by the Farmington River Coordinating Committee.



All wet: Day is wrong to back power grab for water control | Letter to The Day

Feb 6th, 2012 | By

Chairman of the Southeastern Connecticut Water Authority disagrees with a Jan. 24 editorial, “An important step for regional policy,” that contends that the Southeastern Connecticut Council of Governments (SCCOG) legislative proposal, resulting in significant control over the Southeastern Connecticut Water Authority (SCWA), would be beneficial.



EPA To Provide Nearly $10 Million to Clean Up Beaches Across the Nation

Feb 2nd, 2012 | By
EPA To Provide Nearly $10 Million to Clean Up Beaches Across the Nation

The agency launches improved website for beach advisories and closures WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced that it will provide $9.8 million in grants to 38 states, territories and tribes to help protect the health of swimmers at America’s beaches. The agency also launched an improved website for beach advisories and
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Fairfield officials want lead, chromium cleanups of Mill River coordinated

Jan 29th, 2012 | By

Exide Group Inc., under orders from the state DEEP to remove the lead that was leaked from its Post Road factory for 30 years, has been conducting informational meetings with residents and town officials in preparation for a formal hearing before the DEEP in either February or March for permits for its plan. The Connecticut Post reports.



Southington: Phosphorus Fight: Balancing the Costs of Environmental Protection

Jan 27th, 2012 | By
Southington: Phosphorus Fight: Balancing the Costs of Environmental Protection

The town of Southington is about to embark on an expensive project, courtesy of a federal mandate requiring the state to address high levels of phosphorus in its rivers and streams.



Town Settles N. Mianus Sewer Lawsuits

Jan 27th, 2012 | By

The residents of North Mianus have settled their protracted lawsuits against the Town of Greenwich over who should pay for the installation of sewers in that area of town. Greenwich Patch reports.



Way cleared for fish bypass in Seymour

Jan 23rd, 2012 | By
Way cleared for fish bypass in Seymour

Construction of a fish bypass in the Naugatuck River could finally begin this spring. It has been in the works for 14 years. The Board of Selectmen last week voted on two final components that were holding up the project. The New Haven Register reports.



New tide gates slated along West River in New Haven

Jan 23rd, 2012 | By
New tide gates slated along West River in New Haven

One of the largest wetlands-restoration efforts in a Connecticut urban area is under way along the West River between Route 1 and Chapel Street, where three new self-regulating tide gates soon will restore more natural salinity to 50 acres of lush tidal marsh. The New Haven Register reports.



Storms Worsened Sound’s Sewage Problems

Jan 23rd, 2012 | By
Storms Worsened Sound’s Sewage Problems

47 sewage treatment plants reported spills to the DEEP during two 2011 storms and their aftermath. But sewage spills into the Sound are not as rare as a once-in-a-generation storm such as Irene.



Upgrading Critical Water, Sewer Facilities Would Provide Clean Drinking Water, Safeguard Public Health, and Create Jobs

Jan 22nd, 2012 | By
Upgrading Critical Water, Sewer Facilities Would Provide Clean Drinking Water, Safeguard Public Health, and Create Jobs

With President Obama set to unveil his annual budget plan next month, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand has urged the Office of Management and Budget Director to include more federal funding for water and sewer infrastructure in the President’s final FY 2013 budget. Senator Gillibrand called for allocating at least $2.1 billion for the federal clean water program and $1.4 billion for drinking water improvement programs in this year’s blueprint – a significant increase from last year’s FY 2012 budget.



Stamford water quality: It’s time for information

Jan 21st, 2012 | By

2012 is the Year of the Dragon – apparently a sign that is unafraid of challenges and willing to take risks. That is something we need in Stamford, writes Karen DeFalco of the North Stamford Concerned Citizens for the Environment. We’re looking forward to collecting a huge amount of water quality data this year that, if confronted with an open mind, should have a tremendously positive impact on our community. Click on this environmental headline for more of this dispatch from DeFalco.



Power outages led to waste treatment plant failures

Dec 31st, 2011 | By
Power outages led to waste treatment plant failures

While power outages during Tropical Storm Irene and the October snowstorm left much of the state in the dark, they had a less-publicized but possibly more damaging result — millions of gallons of raw sewage spilled into waterways throughout Connecticut when backup power systems failed at waste treatment plants. The Hartford Courant reports.



Towns make wary, fitful moves to regionalize

Dec 31st, 2011 | By

One of the biggest challenges facing the Bridgeport region is the sewer system. Bridgeport’s system is in need of updating, Trumbull needs to find a way to lower its sewage costs, and Monroe doesn’t have one at all.



PRE plan a step backward for Quinebaug River | Claire Miller via the Norwich Bulletin

Dec 30th, 2011 | By

The Quinebaug River has a legacy of pollution. Historically, the Quinebaug, and its numerous tributaries, played an important role in the industrial development of Connecticut and Massachusetts with its mills and dams.