NEWS RELEASE
March 19, 2008
For immediate release:
ANNUAL WATERSHED INSPECTIONS BEGIN
BARKHAMSTED -- The Metropolitan District Commission (MDC), as part of its state-mandated annual watershed sanitary survey and inspection program, will be visiting property owners in the Barkhamsted and Nepaug Reservoir watersheds to inspect their septic systems.
The MDC’s inspection program will begin March 24 and take place in the towns of Barkhamsted and Hartland on the Barkhamsted Reservoir watershed, and in New Hartford, Burlington, Harwinton, Torrington and Winsted on the Nepaug Reservoir watershed.
The purpose of the program, which will continue through November, is to prevent contamination of the MDC’s drinking water supplies as a result of septic system failure, erosion and sedimentation, runoff from farm wastes and other pollutants.
Approximately 1,220 residential septic systems are scheduled for inspection this year, with the remaining properties to be looked at in rotation in coming years. Routine inspections normally take about five minutes.
The MDC has both the right and the responsibility to inspect the systems. Information about faulty systems will be forwarded to the Farmington Valley Health District, Bristol-Burlington Health District or Torrington Area Health District for further action, as required by law.
Property owners may receive more information by contacting the MDC Watershed Management Unit, Barkhamsted Water Supply Division at (860) 379-0916 extension 3105 or (860) 278-7850 extension 3105.
A non-profit municipal corporation chartered by the Connecticut General Assembly in 1929, the MDC supplies water and sewer services to its eight member municipalities: Bloomfield, East Hartford, Hartford, Newington, Rocky Hill, West Hartford, Wethersfield and Windsor -- and to portions of other towns in the region.
The MDC also
owns and operates two hydroelectric power facilities on the Farmington River,
one at the Goodwin Dam in Hartland and one at the Colebrook River Dam in
Colebrook.
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| For further information contact: | Carol E. Youell, Natural
Resources Administrator, MDC (860) 379-0916 ext. 3105 or (860) 278-7850 ext. 3105 |