AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM THE METROPOLITAN DISTRICT

Precautionary Measures Only

April 22, 2009

For Immediate Release

HARTFORD, (April 22, 2009) – The State of Connecticut Public Health Department is requesting that Metropolitan District (MDC) consumers in the towns of Bloomfield, Glastonbury, Portland, Windsor, Hartford, East Hartford, West Hartford, South Windsor and parts of East Granby and Windsor Locks, boil their drinking water for one minute until further notice. This notification is a precautionary measure.

The Metropolitan District Commission (MDC) is conducting an intensive study to determine the cause of microscopic aquatic organisms called “copepods” and “rotifers” that have been identified in the drinking water distribution system coming through the District’s Reservoir No. 6 Water Treatment Facility in Bloomfield.  These organisms are commonly present in the raw water supplied to the treatment facility and are not harmful to humans and do not cause any known health effects in drinking water.

The MDC is thoroughly investigating this matter and is taking a number of immediate actions including the isolation of East Hartford, Glastonbury, Portland and South Windsor from the Reservoir No. 6 service area, to ensure safety of the public drinking water supply. The MDC will advise consumers through the local media when they no longer need to boil water. This notice does not affect Rocky Hill, Newington, Farmington/Unionville, and Wethersfield.

Updated information can be found on the District’s website www.themdc.com. If you have any questions, please call the Metropolitan District at 278-7850 extension 3600.

The MDC is a nonprofit municipal corporation chartered by the Connecticut General Assembly in 1929. The MDC provides water, sewer and household hazardous waste collection services to its member municipalities: Bloomfield, East Hartford, Hartford, Newington, Rocky Hill, West Hartford, Wethersfield and Windsor.

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