Waterlines: Spring-Summer 2006

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Creating Wetlands To Protect Our Water Supply

The Regional Water Authority is creating manmade wetlands in Hamden to trap sediments and contaminants from stormwater runoff from a 200-acre drainage area before they can enter our nearby public water supply reservoir.

With the newest water treatment facility in operation, the Authority needs to ensure that steps are taken to trap the road sand and contaminants that can be washed off town roads in a storm, before they get deposited into the reservoir. The planning and coordination for this $800,000 project began in 2001.

Over the summer, a series of basins and planted wetlands will be built on Authority property in Hamden. The watercourse running through the property is known as Webb Brook, and receives stormwater runoff from an estimated 200-acre urbanized drainage area. Over the years, large amounts of road sand were transported into the reservoir, resulting in a thick layer of sand deposits in the cove of the reservoir. With the construction of the new wetlands system, Authority crews can easily trap and remove inputs of road sand and trash before they can enter the reservoir.

The Authority met and worked with neighbors in the area, who provided input into the design and landscaping of this project. Besides improving the quality of water entering the reservoir, the project includes attractive landscaping, with over 100 tree and shrub plantings along with wetland plantings that will enhance the visual aesthetics and provide wildlife habitats.

Easy-to-Use HazWaste Central Is Open on Saturdays

Every day most of us use hazardous products in our kitchen, garage, bathroom, basement and yard. These include cleaning products, drain openers, paints, antifreeze, pesticides and fertilizers.

Many of these products are safe when used according to directions, but they all contain chemicals that, if not properly used or disposed of, can harm people and the environment, and can pollute drinking water sources. HazWaste Central is the place you can dispose of household hazardous wastes safely, easily and for free. By going to HazWaste Central, you can be sure that the chemicals do not end up in the water supply.

HazWaste Central, located at the Authority headquarters on Sargent Drive in New Haven, is open from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturdays. It’s closed on holiday weekends. For more information about what you can bring to HazWaste Central, visit our website at www.rwater.com/hazwaste.

New Address for Lockbox

Customers who mail in their water bill payments, please take note of the Regional Water Authority’s new lockbox address.

The new address is:
Regional Water Authority
P.O. Box 981020
Boston, MA 02298-1020

It’s important that customers mail their payment in the company-issued envelopes that accompany their bill or make payment at a walk-in payment location. And for customers who use a bill payment service, please remember to provide them with the new payment address.

Cleaning & Cement Lining Water Mains: Investment in Infrastructure That Delivers Water

In early spring, the Regional Water Authority launched a $3 million project to clean and line nine miles of water mains in the Fair Haven Heights and Annex sections of New Haven. Crews will be in the neighborhood bounded by Waterfront Street on the west, Russell Street and Peat Meadow Road on the east, Hemingway Street on the north and Forbes Avenue on the south. (Download PDF of Map.)

“As we work in the street, this project may cause some inconvenience to some consumers, but we are doing everything possible to minimize any difficulty the customer may experience. Once completed, consumers served by the cleaned and lined mains will have better protection against fires in their neighborhood,” explained Noel B. Grant, vice president of customer relations at the Regional Water Authority.

The work involves cleaning and then lining iron water mains with cement while the pipe remains underground. ”For over 25 years, the water mains we’ve added to our system have had an interior lining of cement that prevents corrosion. Each year, we clean and cement line several miles of unlined mains,” said Grant.

Before work begins on a section of main, temporary above-ground mains are installed. A flexible hose is used to connect each home to the temporary main. Once customers are being served through the temporary main, crews begin cleaning the underground pipe. The first task is to clean sediment and corrosion by dragging a scraping device through the underground pipe. Once the main is clean, a device that spreads an even lining of cement is pulled through the main. After the lining dries, the main is put back together, disinfected and returned to service.

During the project, consumers with questions or problems can call the Authority’s Customer Service Department at 562-4020.

When Will the Street Be Repaved?

A frequent comment on our monthly construction customer surveys is the condition of roadways or streets after completion of a project. We understand the disruption an unpaved street can cause in a residential neighborhood, and are committed to completing repaving projects quickly.

Once our construction crew completes a repair, the area is temporarily patched with asphalt. The area of roadway is permanently repaved, in about five weeks, after the ground settles. Unseasonably cool or wet weather can hinder a street from being repaved. Street cannot be permanently repaved during the winter season.

Look for Your Water Quality Report

In Greater New Haven, we use an average of 55 million gallons of water a day. How much is that? Imagine filling Yale Bowl with water. That’s how much water we provide to customers in a typical week. Where do we get so much water? What keeps it safe? Our water quality report answers these questions and more. Look for it to arrive in your mailbox soon.