State Announces Series of Public Meetings On Draft Connecticut State Water Plan

HARTFORD – What water issues are Connecticut residents most concerned about? How does Connecticut’s economy benefit from our available water resources? How do Connecticut residents’ attitudes toward conservation stack up against other states? Does the State appropriately acknowledge the various needs for water such as drinking water supply, economic development, and ecological needs?

The state’s Water Planning Council (WPC) today announced a series of public meetings to be held around the state in order to solicit input from residents and interested parties on the state’s first ever State Water Plan. The WPC is developing a State Water Plan to help frame future water management policies, laws and regulations in the state that ensure a fair and effective balance for all water needs while protecting this precious and valuable resource. The Draft Connecticut State Water Plan is currently available for public review and comment.

Key champions in the state legislature for the development of Connecticut’s first state water plan will be hosting public meetings on behalf of the WPC at locations across the state. The public meetings will consist of regional information sessions with the WPC for residents to learn about the Plan and an informal question and answer session with the WPC members. A public hearing will also be held where formal public comments to be heard and gathered for the record and official comment tally. The public comment period will be open until November 20, 2017 to ensure residents and interested parties have ample opportunity to review the draft plan and provide comments.

The dates for these public meetings are:

October 26, 2017 (hosted by Rep. Jonathan Steinberg) - Earthplace, Westport – 6:30pm -8:30 pm.

October 30, 2017 (Public Hearing) – DEEP, Hartford, 6:30 pm -8:30 pm.

November 8, 2017 (hosted by Rep. Mary Mushinsky) – Wallingford Town Hall, 6:30 pm -8:30 pm.

“Connecticut has long enjoyed plentiful water resources. The State’s drinking water sources are among the highest quality in the United States. We work to balance out-of-stream uses of water (like drinking water and industrial uses) and in-stream uses (like ecological and recreational uses). But there are many pressures on our water resources, and Connecticut’s good fortune will continue only if we can manage those resources wisely and consistently in the future,” said WPC member Jack Betkoski, Chair, WPC.

In addition to the public meetings, the WPC has produced a webinar which provides an overview and pathways forward for the Plan. Details about the public meetings, webinar and a copy of the draft plan with instructions on how to provide comments can be found at www.ct.gov/water. The WPC is comprised of members from four State Agencies that deal with water resources: the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, Office of Policy and Management, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, and the Department of Public Health.

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