Press Releases
04/30/2018
Gov. Malloy Breaks Ground on Groton Water Treatment Renovations, Calls for Passage of State Water Plan
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(GROTON, CT) – Governor Dannel P. Malloy, joined by Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Raul Pino, federal and local officials, and representatives of Groton Utilities, today broke ground on a $54 million comprehensive rehabilitation of an 80-year-old water treatment plant that provides drinking water supply to 45,000 people along with commercial and industrial customers in southeastern Connecticut, including General Dynamics Electric Boat and Pfizer’s global research headquarters. The project, which is expected to take three years, is funded entirely through Connecticut’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, including a state grant of $15 million and low-interest loans of $39 million.
“This is a critical and long-overdue project,” Governor Malloy said. “The fact is that this plant was constructed in 1939, 41 years before there was an Environmental Protection Agency, and the most recent updates were in 1960, 14 years before the passage of the Clean Water Act. I am proud that Connecticut understands the need to make sure our infrastructure is sufficient to provide safe and reliable drinking water for all of our residents and businesses.”
The Governor also used the opportunity to call on the legislature to approve the State Water Plan as written, including language reiterating state statutes, which state that water is a public trust.
“The State Water Plan establishes a framework for the responsible management of Connecticut’s water – one that allows all stakeholders a continuing voice at the table,” Governor Malloy said. “The plan was drafted after an 18-month transparent and public process with extensive input from consumers, environmental advocates, and water utilities. The idea that these same utilities are now trying to derail the entire process in order to protect their private interests and profits should be of concern to every citizen in our state. The simple fact is that water is a public trust, and our state statutes have said as much for over 40 years – this plan does nothing to change that, or expand upon it.”
Public Act 14-163 instructed the Water Planning Council to develop a State Water Plan for future management of the water resources of the state. The plan is currently pending approval in the General Assembly.
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