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 the first week of April 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 1,000 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) 379-0938 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
Phone: (860) 379-0938 or (860) 278-7850 extension 3105