Municipalities

Municipalities play the most critical role in the Aquifer Protection Area Program. Implementation at the local level involves:

• Appointing an existing commission to act as the Aquifer Protection Agency
• Delineating the aquifer protection area boundary on the town zoning map (only once Level A mapping is completed by the water company and approved by DEEP)
• Adopting local aquifer protection area regulations consistent with state regulations
• Identifying and inventorying potentially regulated activities in the area
• Regulating businesses and facilities within the aquifer protection area

All members of a Municipal Aquifer Protection Agency are encouraged to take the Aquifer Protection Area Program Technical Training. This FREE, online course assists municipal agencies in meeting training requirements under the Aquifer Protection Act. For technical assistance, contact Jean.Madden-Hennessey@UConn.edu.

Appointing the Aquifer Protection Agency

Delineating the Aquifer Protection Area Boundary

It is the municipality's responsibility to delineate the Level A boundary on town zoning or inland wetland maps. Visit DEEP GIS Open Data for GIS files, or view the Guidance for Delineation of Aquifer Protection Area Boundaries.

Adopting Local Aquifer Protection Area Regulations

Municipal regulations must be consistent with state regulations. See the Model Municipal Regulations in PDF or Word format (Revised 10/1/2010).

• Reference Document for Model Municipal Regulations - Provides citations used in the Model Regulations.
• Guidance for Adoption of Municipal Regulations

Identifying and Inventorying Regulated Activities

Agencies shall conduct an inventory of land uses to assess potential contamination sources.

• Table of Potentially Regulated Businesses and Facilities
• Table of Aquifer Protection Area Regulated Land Uses Activities
• Land Use Inventory Guidelines for Aquifer Protection Areas

Regulating Businesses and Facilities

Registration of Businesses and Facilities

See SAF-T Auto's completed registration form as a reference. The following forms assist in the process:

• Determining Regulatory Status Form
• Initial Program Notice to Businesses
• Notice of Potential Registration to Businesses
• Model Municipal Registration Form and Registration Form Instructions
• Registration Processing Flowchart
• Registration Acknowledgement Form
• Letter of Incompleteness for Registrations
• Registration Cover Letter
• Registration Certificate
• Technical Guidance for Registrations
• Registration Decision Trees

The forms below assist in processing aquifer protection area permits:

• Model Municipal Permit Form and Permit Form Instructions
• Permit Processing Flowchart
• Permit Acknowledgement Form
• Letter of Incompleteness for Permits
• Permit Cover Letter
• Aquifer Protection Permit

Other specialized management forms:

• Model Form for Developing a Materials Management Plan (MMP)
• Instructions for Developing a Stormwater Management Plan (SWMP)
• Aquifer Protection Stormwater Management Plan Supplement
• Considerations for Requiring a Materials Management Plan
• Considerations for Requiring a Stormwater Management Plan
• Environmental Compliance Form and Compliance Form Instructions

Sending copies of registrations

Businesses must send copies to CT DEEP, CT DPH, and affected water companies. For contacts, see the Water Utility Contact Directory.

CT DEEP: DEEP.AquiferProtection@ct.gov
CT DPH: DPH.SourceProtection@ct.gov

Conducting Site Inspections

Inspections ensure compliance with Best Management Practices (BMPs). Examples include:

• BMP Compliance Form - Norwalk Agency
• Inspection Report: Davidson Chevrolet (Canton, CT)
• Inspection Report: JZ Truck (Canton, CT)
• Follow-up Inspection Report: JZ Truck (Canton, CT)

Protecting Future Sources

Towns with preliminary Level B mapping may take interim actions (See Interim Protection Guidance). For more tools, see Protecting Connecticut's Groundwater - A Guide for Local Officials.

The Connecticut Geological Survey prepared the Surficial Aquifer Potential Map for statewide planning (View the Surficial Aquifer Potential Map).

DEEP Contact Information

Contact the DEEP Aquifer Protection Area Program at DEEP.AquiferProtection@ct.gov.

Return to the Aquifer Protection Program Home page for more information.

Content last updated March 11, 2026