Notice of Scoping for Town of Coventry Water Pollution Control Facility (WPCF)
Project Title: Coventry Water Pollution Control Facility Upgrade
Addresses of possible locations: 394 Main St., Coventry, potentially with a transmission line to 2 Main St., Willimantic (via various potential routes: Route 31 to Route 32 to Route 6, OR crossing the Willimantic River [using either Jude Lane, Depot Road, or an easement area] to Route 32 to Route 6).
Municipalities where proposed action might be located: Coventry, with a potential transmission line to Willimantic
Project Description: The Town of Coventry owns and operates a Water Pollution Control Facility (WPCF) that treats wastewater generated in the area around Coventry Lake and primarily from residential properties. The treated wastewater is then discharged to groundwater through a series of Rapid Infiltration Basins (RIBs). The WPCF, constructed in 1985, is designed and permitted to treat an average daily flow of 200,000 gallons per day (GPD). The WPCF’s discharge to groundwater was initially permitted in 1997 and the permit coverage has been maintained to present day.
The major treatment processes at the WPCF include influent pumping, preliminary treatment (grit removal), and primary treatment. Primary effluent is discharged to the RIBs. Sludge from the treatment process is collected and disposed of as offsite. Treated effluent is discharged to the groundwater from the bottom of the RIBs, and this groundwater travels to the Willimantic River which is located approximately 70 feet away.
The RIBS have experienced breakouts on the ground surface of wastewater that has not been fully treated, which is an indicator of a malfunctioning system, close to the Willimantic River. This scoping notice is for a proposal to evaluate two options:
1) upgrade Coventry’s existing substandard and aging WPCF at its current location, expand its capacity to approximately 266,000 GPD, and alter the groundwater discharge to a direct surface water discharge to the Willimantic River, which would meet applicable State and Federal regulatory laws, including water quality requirements, or
2) evaluate the alternative of ceasing on-site treatment and converting Coventry’s WPCF to a pump station which would convey its wastewater through a new transmission line to the Windham WPCF, located at 2 Main Street, Willimantic, CT, where it is discharged to the Shetucket River after treatment. Several potential paths for the new transmission line were evaluated in the Planning Report linked below and are shown on Figure 7-1. These proposed routes either initially follow Route 31 and connect to Route 32 or cross the river to Route 32 by way of Jude Ln, Depot Rd, or through an easement area and then turns onto Route 6 to the proposed connection manhole. The transmission line will not allow for new sewer connections. This alternative would require Coventry to successfully negotiate an intermunicipal agreement (IMA) allowing Coventry to convey its wastewater flows to Willimantic for treatment and disposal.
The Town developed a planning report documenting these options. A draft of the report can be found here.
The Town is planning to expand the Sewer Service Area to account for future growth and for new connections mostly located around the Coventry Lake area. The proposed future sewer service area is shown on Figure 3-3 of the report.
Project Maps: Click here to view a map of the existing sewer area. Click here to view a map of the proposed sewer area. Click here to view a map of the Windham connection routes. Click here to view a map of the WPCF construction space.
Written comments from the public are welcomed and will be accepted until the close of business on: December 18, 2025
There will be a public scoping meeting for this proposed action:
DATE: December 11, 2025
TIME: 6:00 pm
PLACE: Virtual, utilizing Zoom
NOTES: The link to attend the public meeting is: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84421029955?pwd=JMALTV3a5YHBgGaK0d4jkt8c2gRuPg.1
Or https://zoom.us/join
To access Zoom via telephone dial 929-205-6099
Meeting ID: 844 2102 9955
Passcode: 785614
Additional information about the project can be viewed in person: by contacting Mike Ruef before December 18, 2025, at (860) 531-2913 or by email: mruef@coventry-ct.gov.
Written comments should be sent to:
Name: Robin Rittgers
Agency: Water Planning & Management Division, Bureau of Water Protection and Land Reuse,
Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection, CT DEEP
Address: 79 Elm Street, Hartford, CT 06106-5127
E-Mail: Robin.Rittgers@ct.gov
If you have questions about the public scoping meeting, or other questions about the scoping for this project, contact:
Name: Robin Rittgers
Agency: Water Planning & Management Division, Bureau of Water Protection and Land Reuse,
Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection, CT DEEP
Address: 79 Elm Street, Hartford, CT 06106-5127
E-Mail: Robin.Rittgers@ct.gov
Inquiries and requests to view and or copy documents, pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, must be submitted to the sponsoring state agency:
Name: Brenda Antuna
Agency: Office of the Commissioner, CT DEEP
Address: 79 Elm Street, Hartford, CT 06106-5127
E-Mail: Brenda.Antuna@ct.gov
What Happens Next: DEEP will make a determination whether to proceed with preparation of an Environmental Impact Evaluation (EIE) or that the project does not require the preparation of an EIE under the Connecticut Environmental Policy Act (CEPA). A Post-Scoping Notice of its decision will appear in a future edition of the Environmental Monitor.