With recent hurricane activity, it’s easy to forget that we’ve faced severe drought in the past and will in the future, brought on by climate change and expanded water usage from development. It is impossible to predict the future, but unfortunately, the Department of Energy & Environment Protection has done just that — it has decided that we don’t need seven million gallons a day of water from the Hemlocks Reservoir for the next 25 years; and that we don’t need to monitor the downstream impact because there ‘will be no downstream impact”.
This was the comment in DEEP’s ‘proposed final decision’ which if finalized, will approve a 25-year permit to divert 7 million gallons a day of water from Mill River watershed in Fairfield, to lower Fairfield County. This is in addition to the 7 million gallons a day already being diverted (of which around 5 million is further sold to the Suez water company in New York State). If this decision is finalized, it will directly affect Cricker Brook, Samp Mortar and Mill River downstream, and all the habitat these water bodies support for the next 25 years.
The hearing officer did not accept any of the intervenors’ proposed conditions of approval such as shortening the permit from 25 years, requiring Aquarion to re-install the USGS water monitoring gauge at the Duck Farm Road bridge to monitor downstream impacts, further study of the Housatonic Wellfields which will be used to replenish the watershed but contain manganese contamination,...
Read Full Story: https://ctexaminer.com/2021/09/16/harrison-fairfield-has-two-chances-to-fight-states-water-decision/
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