The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Winsted Water Works unveils $6M project
Effort aims to fix issues, improve water quality
“Replacing these mains, replacing 4,000 linear feet, will maintain water quality and pressure for users including emergency services.” Bill Hester, sewer commission member
WINSTED — A $6 million improvement project for Winsted Water Works could begin later this year, and will be paid entirely with user fees, officials said.
Sewer commission member Bill Hester and public works Director Jim Rollins said the project is a three-phase plan to replace 4,000 feet of aging or obsolete water mains and upgrade two water storage tanks.
The project, Hester said, would be financed using the state Department of Public Health’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, which is provided to help towns improve their water systems. Towns can borrow the money at 2 percent interest and repay it over a 25-year period.
Winsted Finance Director Bruce Stratford said the loan for the project involves no public money. “The payments for the loan come from the users,” he said. “The finance department receives (the company’s) money, and pays the bills for Winsted Water Works.”
The water company could try to fund the project using its rates directly, but it would take years to accumulate the full amount, according to Stratford.
“When there are large projects that require more than what the
annual revenues can provide, (the company) can go to sources for long-term financing,” he said. “It was done with the water filtration plant that was built 20 years ago. Winsted Water Works recently paid that off, so they have no outstanding debt.
“Projects that total more than $6 million have been accepted by the (state’s) revolving loan fund for financing, and this one has been approved,” Stratford said.
The next step is to hold a referendum to have it approved by residents.
“Winsted Water Works is coming to (the town) to let (them) know that taxpayers need to authorize that borrowing,” Stratford said. “The payments will be paid from the revenues collected from water customers.”
Hester said the town’s many water mains are between 60 and 120 years old.
“Replacing these mains, replacing 4,000 linear feet, will maintain water quality and pressure for users including emergency services,” he said.
The water mains to be replaced are on Case Avenue, Thibault Street and Greenwood Avenue, and Holabird Avenue from Whiting Street to Florence Street. For the second and third parts of the project, the tank at Wallens Hill is too big and in need of repair. Instead, the company plans to install a 500,000gallon tank to replace the 1.5 million-gallon structure. At Crystal Lake, an existing tank needs to be repaired.
Stratford said it was important to have residents approve the improvement project.
“People with wells might ask, ‘Why do I care?’,” he said. “It’s because the water company provides to all businesses in town. It will help our water and sewer resources.”
In two weeks, the Water and Sewer Commission will ask the Board of Selectmen to set a hearing date and referendum and invite people to attend a program to learn about the project.
Hester said the water main project likely will start in fall and resume next spring, and that the company hopes to time its work during road improvement projects in the area that are expected to start this year.
Rollins said the company has not yet decided on a start date. “This fall, we would start either behind Town Hall, or on Holabird Avenue,” he said.
“This whole project will help with flushing (water mains),” Hester said. “Everything wears out, and we have to replace it. It’s going to do wonders with the quality of our water.”
Photos of existing structures and deterioration, along with maps covering the projects, can be seen on the Winchester Water Sewer Commission website at www.townofwinchester.org/water-sewer-commission.