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 2021 Update

The Water Treatment Plant continues to operate in accordance with the Management Plan. Click here for updated information on lake levels, spillway flows and water withdrawals.

Lake Whitney’s water level was below spillway during October, in part due to continued abnormally dry conditions throughout the region. Additionally, Lake Whitney experienced a drawdown for two weeks during December to facilitate work on the Lake Whitney dam. Water was released downstream to the Mill River below the Lake Whitney dam with the goal of maintaining downstream ecosystems in both cases. The South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority asked its customers to voluntarily reduce their water use by 10 percent in October, and continues to monitor the conditions at Lake Whitney to ensure compliance with the Management Plan.

The RWA’s annual meeting to report on the Lake Whitney Environmental Management Plan will be at 6:00 pm on Tuesday February 9^th via Zoom. The meeting will be held in conjunction with the MRWA (Mill River Watershed Association) monthly meeting. Please RSVP to ask.whitney@rwater.com if you are interested in attending, a meeting link and reminder will be sent out the day prior.