Old Lyme Shores Beach Association
Water Pollution Control Authority
Frequently Asked Questions
April 28, 2019

What is the history of sewers in Old Lyme Shores?
The Old Lyme Shores Beach Association OLSBA) voted at the September 2010 meeting to conduct a Wastewater Control Study to determine the best possible solution for the future management of wastewater for the Association.

The Board of Governors established a Water Pollution Control Committee in 2010 to undertake a Wastewater Control Study. In October 2010, the committee published a Public Notice for Qualifications and seven (7) engineering firms were interviewed. Fuss & O’Neill was selected after extensive review and interviews.

Fuss & O’Neill presented their background study at the June 18, 2011 Spring Association Meeting and their recommendations for a Centralized Wastewater Management Plan at the June 16, 2012 Spring Association Meeting. The only feasible cost-effective long-term solution was a centralized sewer system discharging into East Lyme, flowing through Waterford and treated at the New London Piacente Wastewater Treatment Facility. Drinking water improvements to replace OLSBA’s seasonal water system with year-round drinking water and hydrants was added to the infrastructure improvements program to prevent the need to open the roadways after the central sewer project is complete. The cost of this plan in 2012 dollars was estimated to be between $28,000 to $41,000 per parcel, payable over 20 years at 2% interest.

The membership of the OLSBA, at its June 16, 2012 Spring Association Meeting, voted to adopt an ordinance establishing a Water Pollution Control Authority (WPCA) pursuant to the provisions of Connecticut General Statutes Chapter 103. The WPCA is responsible to plan, design and construct the wastewater management system. Once the system is constructed the WPCA will manage the system, assess benefits to property owners, and to collect fees to pay for and maintain the system.

When was the Sewer System Project approved?
At a special meeting of the OLSBA on August 11, 2012 the following resolution was approved: “RESOLUTION APPROPRIATING $9,700,000 FOR THE PLANNING, ACQUISITION, DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF A SANITARY SEWER SYSTEM TO SERVE THE OLD LYME SHORES BEACH ASSOCIATION AND AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF A $9,700,000 CLEAN WATER FUND OBLIGATIONS AND/OR DRINKING WATER OBLIGATIONS OF THE OLD LYME SHORES BEACH ASSOCIATION TO MEET SAID APPROPRIATION”

Note that the resolution passed in a paper ballot vote with 135 votes in favor and 30 votes opposed – 86% of the 192 residents voted with 82% voting in favor.

What are the benefits of the Old Lyme Shores wastewater management system?
Environmental – Preserve Long Island Sound and protect the environment by preventing partially or untreated wastewater from entering Long Island Sound
Wastewater Management System – A new wastewater system replacing mostly septic tanks and several cesspools with a system that pumps sewage to East Lyme and then to New London for treatment. This eliminates wastewater from draining into our groundwater and surface water and then into the Sound where we and our families swim –
Drinking Water – A new drinking water delivery system. The current system is 80 years old and inefficient during the summer holidays when most beach homes are full. The new line will be below the frost line and available year-round.
Fire Protection – We only have four fire hydrants located in Old Lyme Shores – additional fire hydrants will be added so we have at least 3 per street. With the water lines below the frost line, the fire hydrants will operate year-round. Safety issue!
Road Reconstruction – all new roads with proper substructure that should last 50 years. The current roads are crowned and cracked and need to be replaced.
Improved Storm Drainage – After a heavy rain, OLSBA has significant flooding and standing water problems everywhere on the beach. New catch basins, drainage pipes and culverts will be added.
Comply with DEEP Consent Orders – comply with consent order issued in Oct 2012 (#CO-WR-MU-12-002) to Old Lyme Shores to stop polluting Long Island Sound and an extension to this consent order to Dec. 31, 2019. On Feb 16, 2018 DEEP issued a unified consent order(#COWRMU18001) for Old Colony, Old Lyme Shores and Miami Beach.
Financial Incentives – Help from the State and CT Water Co. to reduce project costs for residents.
-Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Small Community Grant for 25% of eligible costs and a loan for eligible costs to be repaid at 2% interest over 20 years.
-Department of Public Health (DPH) Drinking Water State Revolving Funds
-CT Water Company will furnish the water mains and hydrant materials at no charge, and may install the water infrastructure (free installation is TBD at this juncture)

What is the stormwater management plan?
Stormwater runoff has been a significant problem for OLSBA for many years with street and property flooding. Our existing “system” includes three storm drain outfalls on the beach that are routinely blocked with sand. We have undersized drainage pipes and channels that are outdated and therefore inadequate to convey the volume of runoff.
OLSBA has commissioned Fuss & O’Neill to complete a stormwater management plan to identify alternative approaches to managing stormwater and to identify their approximate costs. Improvements will be done while the roads are reconstructed. We anticipate this study to be completed in May 2019.

Why was there a delay in the planning, design and construction of our Wastewater System?
The planning process for our water & sewer project is very complex because we are interacting with two other beaches (Old Colony & Miami Beach), four towns (Old Lyme, East Lyme, Waterford and New London), multiple state agencies (DEEP, DPH, Treasurer, Attorney General, DOT), public utility (Ct Water Co) and Amtrak! Each of these entities have regulations and requirements which required lengthy legal negotiations. State and local politics also delayed the process as DEEP would only fund a single pump station and force main.

When did Old Colony Beach Club and Miami Beach Association join Old Lyme Shores?
The OLSBA (Oct 17, 2015) and WPCA (Oct 8, 2015) boards from OLSBA approved the Cost Sharing Agreement.
A Cost-Sharing Agreement was signed by The Miami Beach Association, Old Colony Beach Club Association and Old Lyme Shores Beach Association on April 25, 2016 to construct, operate and maintain a shared sewerage system to serve each respective Association. The shared system includes a pump station and some shared sewers along the shoreline. Each beach association will share the costs based upon their respective Equivalent Dwelling Units (EDU) -(Miami Beach – 35.3%, Old Colony – 34.6% and Old Lyme Shores 30.1%)

How will the capital cost of the sewer project be allocated per residence?
Everyone will pay and share equally in the use of the sewers, water mains and fire hydrants, new roads and improved drainage. We will divide the total cost of the project by the 192 residences of OLSBA.

What is the capital cost assessment of the Sewer Project for Old Lyme Shores?
The current estimate of September 27, 2018 is $6,934,000 or $39,600 for each of the 192 homes – $2,422 annual cost with 2% loan for 20 years.
This estimate includes our share of the pump station and approximately 3 miles of force main, “buy-in” or connection fees to East Lyme, Waterford and New London systems. In OLSBA the capital costs include new roads, new water and sewer pipes, fire hydrants, water and sewer connections to each home, abandonment of septic systems and improved drainage. The estimate will be further refined during detailed design and benefit assessment amount finalized after construction is complete.

What other costs are there for Old Lyme Shores residents?
Each resident will pay a sewer usage fee based upon their water consumption from the CT Water Co.
Each resident will pay our share of the cost to operate and maintain the sewer system and pump station which will include costs of future capital improvements in East Lyme, Waterford, and New London based upon our share of the total flow.

Where do the funds come from to pay for the sewer system?
DEEP is providing a Clean Water Funds (CWF) Small Community Grant for 25% of the eligible costs
DEEP CWF is providing a loan for the eligible costs of sewers at 2% to be paid over 20 years.
Department of Public Health Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (DWSRF)
The Connecticut Water Company will furnish materials for the new water mains and hydrants
Bank loans will be utilized for items not eligible for DEEP or DWSRF funds such as storm drainage improvements.
Each resident will be billed for their share of costs.

What if a Resident has a well or system of year-round water?
The sewer usage fee will be based upon water consumption. The project costs include water connection to each residence. You may be able to utilize your well water for lawn and garden watering, car washing, etc. by installing a separate connection to your well.

What if a Resident has a newly installed engineered septic system?
Each resident will be connected to the new sewer system as part of the project costs. The project costs also include funds to abandon the existing septic system. We have prepared a separate presentation on Typical Septic System Abandonment & Water and Sewer Hookups that is posted on the OLS website.

Where do the funds come from to pay for the sewer system?
DEEP is providing a Clean Water Funds (CWF) Small Community Grant for 25% of the eligible costs
DEEP CWF is providing a loan for the eligible costs of sewers at 2% to be paid over 20 years.
Department of Public Health Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (DWSRF)
The Connecticut Water Company will furnish materials for the new water mains and hydrants
Bank loans will be utilized for items not eligible for DEEP or DWSRF funds such as storm drainage improvements.
Each resident will be billed for their share of costs.

Where will the wastewater pump station be located?
We are currently in the process of choosing the site of the pump station between three possible locations. The location selected will be the most cost effective and permittable long term solution for the beach associations. It is unlikely that the pump station will be sited in OLSBA

Old Lyme?
–At a public hearing in September, 2018 the Town residents (mostly beach residents) overwhelmingly approved a land lease in Sound View for the 3 Beaches to build a pump station. This lease has not been signed.
-DEEP approved the Old Lyme Environmental Impact Evaluation in April, 2019 in response to Old Lyme’s consent order to clean up Long Island Sound.
-Old Lyme will reportedly have a Town wide referendum to approve bonding for sewers in Sound View in 2019. DEEP has approved the Town to do further water testing in Hawks Nest.

Will my residence be considered a year-round residence once the sewers and water systems are installed?
The Town of Old Lyme will still determine if a residence complies with local zoning regulations for year-round status.

When will we get sewers?
We are currently evaluating the time frame now that we have received approval of DEEP Clean Water Funds (April 2019).
Our next steps include designing the OLSBA system, the shared pump station and force main, obtaining a special permit from Old Lyme Zoning Commission to build the pump station, obtaining easements for the pipes within Old Lyme and from Department of Transportation on Route 156, obtaining an inland wetland permit for the OLSBA system, and a Section 8-24 Zoning referral for the project.
Within Old Lyme Shores, we must evaluate construction during the months of July and August, and plan for the connections of water and sewer and the abandonment of septic systems.

What do property owners need to do to help?
OLSBA WPCA will be distributing Sewer Lateral and Water Service Location Forms which must be filled out and signed by each property owner before construction begins in Spring 2020. These forms will assist the engineers to locate your water and sewer services on your property and provide the contractor access to install the connections to your house.