Hoey: 'Connecticut Water is a Different Kind of Utility'

Jul 23, 2023

— Matthew T. Hoey III, 8.29.2023

To the Editor:

Count me among the many who goes to the tap for a glass of water without giving a second thought about how that clean water gets to the faucet.

Last month, I had the opportunity to tour the MacKenzie drinking water treatment facility in Clinton, which is one of the water supply sources for Connecticut Water customers in Guilford. The facility pumps water from the Kelseytown Reservoir in Clinton and puts it through a series of treatment steps and water quality tests before shipping it out to the community.

What an eye opening experience. As one Connecticut Water employee said, “There a lot that goes into making water into water.”

The infrastructure is impressive. Connecticut Water President Craig Patla explained that it cost millions of dollars to build the infrastructure that makes water fit for consumption and then to reliably pipe it to customers at a water pressure level that is not too high or too low, and at a volume to hydrants that can fight fires.

Once the initial infrastructure investment is made, it must be maintained and periodically updated. And much of the investment is in things we can’t see – a maze of pipes buried below the frost line leading to each fire hydrant and customer home.

Connecticut Water has invested about $20 million over the past decade to maintain, improve, and expand water service in Guilford. Projects have included the construction of a new water storage tank in Madison that increased water storage capacity, and made it possible to dismantle the outdated Clapboard Hill water tank on Tanner Marsh Road in Guilford off I-95. There was also the extensive replacement of water mains, some over 100 years old, around Guilford Center that enhanced service reliability, water quality water, and availability. Connecticut Water was also instrumental in the extension of a water main to serve Mulberry Point homeowners who had water quality issues with their private well.

An additional benefit of these Infrastructure investments is the tax benefit to the community: Connecticut Water paid $290,000 in taxes to the community.

I applaud Connecticut Water for making the investment in water infrastructure that supports the excellent quality of life we enjoy in Guilford, and I’m equally impressed with their team members (many of whom are our neighbors here in town and on the shoreline) who were eager to demonstrate for me the care that goes into making water into the high-quality water we enjoy every day.

Connecticut Water is also committed to serving those on private wells. Back in 2020 when Storm Isaias knocked out electric service for an extended period many private well owners had no water because they had no power. Connecticut Water responded by providing a tanker truck of portable water that was stationed at the North Guilford Fire House so private well owners would have water themselves, their families and their pets.

Connecticut Water is a different kind of utility, one that we’re lucky to have taking care of our residents’ needs.

Matthew T. Hoey IIIFirst Selectman, Town of Guilford

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