WPCA Update
April 11, 2020
Water
CT Water Co (CWC) was scheduled to start the installation of year-round water main service and laterals to
their existing customers property line and install fire hydrants at their expense under the WICA (Water
Infrastructure Conservation Assistance) program. CWC awarded the OLS portion of their work to VMS
Construction Service. Note: In response to Governor Lamont’s “Stay Safe, Stay Home” executive order issued
on March 20, CWC has suspended all non-emergency construction activity until further notice. This order has
unfortunately affected OLS, as well as, other neighboring beaches. We will provide additional information
regarding our schedule when it becomes available Surveyors will be staking out the water improvements in
the coming weeks. CWC is using our ballfield as a staging area for material.
For CWC’s existing seasonal customers, CWC will connect the new system to the homeowners existing
seasonal service connections at their property line. Seasonal service will be uninterrupted.
Houses without CWC water, who want to have year-round water service, must complete a CWC application
and conform to the CWC terms and conditions and will be responsible for the cost of the new laterals and the
cost to connect from the curb stop to the house. We have requested DPH to provide a Drinking Water State
Revolving Fund (DWSRF) grant and loan for these new laterals and service connections. DPH requires the CWC
project under WICA to be completed (up to one year!) before a new DPH approved contract can be issued and
must go through the required public bidding process which the WICA contract did not. Currently the DWSRF
funding is a 25% subsidy of eligible fixed cost as grant and a 75% loan.
We believe that existing CWC seasonal customers who want a deep service connection to their house will be
able to contract with VMS or another contractor. Old Lyme still requires seasonal residents to conform to
building codes to be classified year-round.
Pump Station and Force Main
We are finalizing an easement for the pump station which will be located on 73 Portland Ave (Boulanger
property).
We are also working on additional permits that are required from DOT, DEEP, AMTRAK and East Lyme for the
sewer pipes to travel down Route 156 to the East Lyme pump station.
We have developed agreements with Old Lyme (Tim Griswold) and their WPCA to add Sound View to our Cost
Sharing Agreement (Old Colony, Miami Beach, Old Lyme Shores) that are being reviewed by our attorney.
We have requested an easement from Old Lyme for the sewer pipes on town property and have reached an
easement agreement from a private property owner. Note: The Town easement requires a Town Public
Hearing and vote – we are investigating alternatives to the public hearing due to the coronavirus quarantine
and shelter in place requirements.
Construction bids were scheduled to be submitted to DEEP for review in March – All permits and land
easements must be in place prior to bidding. Note: we do not have a current schedule for the bid review.
The cost of the pump station and force main (sewer pipe to East Lyme) design and construction is estimated to
be $6,000,000 and $6,500,000 depending upon the paving width required by CTDOT for the force main. With
Old Lyme added, the OLS share of the design and construction would be reduced from 29 % to 21% (based
upon EDU’s)
Sewers in Old Lyme Shores
Because of the Coronoavirus, we do not have a current schedule for the installation of the sewers – Our
schedule is dependent on the schedule of the pump station and force main construction.
-The cost (benefit assessment) of the design and construction of the sewer system shall be uniformed for all
lot owners
-All homeowners are required to connect to the new sewer system and abandon their septic system or
cesspools as soon as the system in operational
-The cost of connecting to the new sewer system is the individual homeowner’s responsibility
Wells
The Connecticut Public Health Code (PHC) has a 25’ radius separation distance required between wells and
sources of pollution (including sewer lines and laterals). The Ledge Light Health District has informed us that
there is no provision in the PHC for an exception to these separating distances. OLS has 25 wells that encroach
within the 25’ radius and 72 wells within 75’.
We have been working with DEEP and DPH since August 2019 to provide an approval for “well zones” that will
allow tight/pressure sewer pipes to be utilized and allow residents with wells to continue to use their wells.
Note: Because of the DPH focus on the coronavirus, we do not anticipate a response soon. Any exception for
well owners will be an additional cost to the impacted homeowner.
There is a possibility that DEEP will tell well owners to connect to CWC once CWC water is available! We have
asked DPH to include well abandonments in the DWSRF funding being requested.
Consistent with the above and considering there is no formal decision as of yet regarding the acceptable
distance between an existing drinking water well and a possible source of contamination, we have the
following options for well owners to consider.
– Absent a directive from DEEP that requires a homeowner to abandon their well, and if a homeowner is
currently utilizing a well that must be abandoned (per the 25’ radius requirement for example), they may have
two options to consider with CWC during the water main installation and one after CWC completion.
1) Abandon the well (following the LLHD requirements and procedures) and contract with CWC for
water service (Wendy Brown-Arnold LLHD Supervisor of Land Use Activity warnold@llhd.org 860-910-0446)
2) Contract with CWC for water service and elect to maintain the existing well for purposes other than
providing drinking water (for outside use such as irrigation for example). If a homeowner decides to maintain
the well under this scenario, they will be required to install a backflow prevention device to ensure the well
water has no possibility of contaminating the CWC water supply (estimated cost is $300-$400 plus installation
labor). In addition, this backflow prevention device must be inspected annually (estimated inspection cost is
$60 annually, inspection is performed by CWC). Please also note that the well water lines cannot be
introduced into the home.
We have had multiple conversations with the personnel at CWC that are responsible for communicating with
existing and potential CWC customers. All questions regarding individual and specific homeowner concerns
regarding well water use, options going forward, and specific requirements for each option can be directed to
Ms. Shannon Miles, Developer Services Coordinator for Connecticut Water Company. Shannon’s e-mail
address is Shannon.Miles@ctwater.com and her direct phone number is 860-664-6074. Shannon Miles has
told us that she recognizes each homeowner’s situation is a bit different and is prepared to have individual
discussions with each homeowner to allow for more informed decisions.
3) If we receive the DWSRF funding – Wait until the CWC installation is completed and OLS will, in
conjunction with the CWC, issue a contract under the DWSRF bidding requirements for installation (Contractor
follows Prevailing Wages Rates, AISC requirements). Costs to the homeowner potentially covered by DWSRF
includes application fee, main to property line excavation; property line to edge of house (materials and
installation), well abandonment, etc.). If a well is being kept for other uses (e.g. irrigation) the homeowner is
responsible for the cost of the required back flow preventer and annual tests. The DWSRF funding is a 25%
subsidy of eligible fixed cost as grant and a 75% loan. This means that the homeowner would be assessed by
OLS their actual cost and pay over time.
Roads
We are working with Fuss & O’Neill on the new road design and widths to incorporate the improvements to
the drainage system, water system, sewer system, and safety improvements (speed tables). A-2 surveys are
being done to evaluate OLS right of way on the roads below Sea Lane. Property easements will be required
from several property owners. Matt Merritt & Bryan Even will be contacting these property owners. A ramp
at the end of Billow is being evaluated.
The roadways final design will be reviewed at the Spring 2020 meeting.
Stormwater management
Design of the improved stormwater management plan is 85% complete. The key elements include intercepting
stormwater drainage from the northern portions of OLS with a collector pipe along Bellaire Road, routing the
drainage down Sea Spray Road and discharging directly to Long Island Sound. We have reviewed with DEEP
Coastal Area Management (CAM) to utilize and enlarge the “crabbing rocks” outfall to Long Island Sound as
our primary outfall with a new secondary outfall into Sheffield Brook below the culverts. We had asked for a
Certificate of Permission to proceed but were informed on Feb 13, that a more rigorous permitting (individual
permit) was required which will require an extensive CAM review. This permit will not preclude us from
constructing all of the storm drainage infrastructure upstream of the outfall.
The new drainage system will not include work on individual homeowner’s properties.
Stay Safe and Healthy!
Joe Halloran
WPCA Chairman