Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection

Emergency Burn Ban In Effect 10/26/24 - An emergency burn ban is now in effect for all Connecticut State Parks, Forests, and Wildlife Management areas, prohibiting the use of all outdoor grills, firepits, and campfires, and the kindling and use of flame outdoors. DEEP and local agencies are working to contain several active fires across the state. Please avoid all affected State Parks and Forests, as well as the blue-blazed Mattabesett Trail. The Enduro Trail in Voluntown and portions of North Stonington within the Pachaug State Forest are closed at this time. Please note that today's forest fire danger report remains at a 'very high' or 'extreme' level. More information about the current fire danger, burn ban and recommended safety measures can be found here

Protecting Connecticut's Groundwater

A Guide for Local Officials

Protecting Connecticut's Groundwater - A Guide for Local Officials was written in 1997 by Robert Hust and James Murphy of the Department of Environmental Protection's Water Bureau. The Guide provides the tools needed to understand groundwater protection and to communicate its importance to other local officials and citizens.


Main Sections (PDF, 27 MB) - includes:
  • Introduction
  • Part I - Understanding the Resource: Basic Concepts of Groundwater
  • Part II - What are the Risks?  Sources of Groundwater Contamination
  • Part III - The Groundwater Partnership: Federal, State and Local Roles in Protecting Groundwater
  • Part IV - Tools for Local Groundwater Management
  • Part V - How to Develop a Local Groundwater Protection Plan
Supplements (PDF, 25 MB) - includes:
  • Supplement A - Developing a Groundwater Protection Plan
  • Supplement B - Assessing Land Use Risks
  • Supplement C - Tools for Groundwater Protection
  • Supplement D - Information Resources
  • Glossary

Content last updated on January 17, 2020.