Water project clears 1st hurdle

WINSTED — A project for Winsted Water Works system improvements took a step forward this week with approval from the Planning & Zoning Commission.

The $6 million improvement project could begin later this year, and would be paid entirely with user fees, officials said.

Members of the water company and public works member Bart Clark brought an 8-24 application to the commission for approval. An 8-24 application is used for town projects and is a procedural step that is required by the state, putting site plans and permits on the municipal record. All town agencies are required

to file such an application before starting such a project.

The water company applied for funding from the state Department of Public Health’s Clean Drinking Water Act revolving loan fund, which is set up to provide towns with lowinterest loans to make improvements to their infrastructure. The project already has been approved by the DPH.

The project calls for 4,000 feet of water mains to be replaced on Case Avenue, Thibault Street and Greenwood Avenue, and Holabird Avenue from Whiting Street to Florence Street. The mains, the water company said, are between 60 and 120 years old. In addition, an oversized water storage tank at Wallens Hill, which holds 1.5 million gallons, will be replaced by a 500,000-gallon tank. At Crystal Lake, an existing water tank needs to be repaired.

The water company presented a more general plan to the Board of Selectmen during its April 5 meeting. All the presentations are required by the state.

“The 8-24 referral begins our permit process,” Clark said. “We’ll have to come to you with the special permit application and site plan for approval, once we get that done. We also have to get Inland Wetlands Commission approval, as well as from the Board of Selectmen, before we can get the funding from the DPH.”

Commission member Art

Melchyer asked why the Wallens Hill tank had to be replaced.

“It was overdesigned,” Clark said. “It turned out to be a detriment to the water system because of its (size), and caused byproducts and low chlorine residue to collect inside, which could become contaminated.”

The commission unanimously approved the 8-24 application.