Sustainable Solutions

To respond to community concerns during the planning of the Lake Whitney Water Treatment Plant, we hired a team of environmental scientists to conduct an environmental evaluation of the project’s potential impacts on areas upstream and downstream of the Lake Whitney dam, the waterfall and the site of the existing filtration plant. A report summarizing findings and recommendations was completed in January of 1999 and included recommendations for ongoing environmental monitoring and performance standards to mitigate potential impacts of future water withdrawals.

We operate the Whitney Water Treatment Plant in accordance with the Whitney Management Plan. It is a dynamic document that is sensitive to both water supply needs and environmental issues, and can be changed to reflect new information gained from experience in operating the plant and mitigation measures. We worked cooperatively with a multidisciplinary environmental study team and the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to develop the plan.

In addition to the information regularly updated here, we discuss the current status of Management Plan implementation at our annual public meeting each February. We are fully committed to carrying out the obligations of the Management Plan and operating the Lake Whitney Water Treatment Plant in a manner that will mitigate any impacts resulting from plant operation upon associated environmental resources.

January 2020 Update

The Water Treatment Plant continues to operate in accordance with the Management Plan. Click here for information on lake levels, spillway flows and water withdrawals. Other studies and reports can be found here.

The RWA’s annual meeting to report on the Lake Whitney Environmental Management Plan will be at 6:00 pm on Tuesday February 11th in the Whitney Water Center, 945 Whitney Avenue, Hamden. In the event of a weather-related cancellation, the meeting will be moved to February 13th at 6:00 pm. The meeting will be held in conjunction with the MRWA (Mill River Watershed Association) monthly meeting.