The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
CITY APPROVES SEWER PIPELINE
Residents protest plan, jeer council members
TORRINGTON — The City Council voted to allow a pipeline between the Woodridge Lake Sewer District in Goshen and the municipal system Monday, prompting boos and calls of “shame” from the crowd in attendance.
City Council members Paul Cavagnero and Marie Soliani voted against the proposal, citing their concerns over the risk of the project, while members Frank Rubino, Anne Ruwet, and Fred Simon voted in favor, noting that officials from the state and city consider it to be safe.
“Systems inherently fail. They will fail. The evidence is all around us,” said Cavagnero, raising the example of last week’s bridge collapse in Miami and the still-fouled water system in Flint, Mich.
“We’re all citizens of Torrington. We
drink the water; we have grandchildren,” said Ruwet. “We have a responsibility to listen to facts. Whether it be from DPH (the Department of Public Health), or DEEP (Department of Energy and Environmental Protection), or our own professionals, every recommendation has been made to accept this application.”
The crowd in attendance was vociferously displeased with the approving vote, as anti-pipeline sentiments drew murmurs of approval and applause, while propipeline remarks drew boos and jeers. Carbone called for decorum from the audience during the discussion, but the audible discontent continued.
A group of residents gathered outside City Hall ahead of the meeting to speak out against the proposal, waving placards and signs bearing slogans including “Protect Our Water Supply” and “Consider Our Children and Yours.”
Residents spoke angrily against the decision during the public comment section of the meeting that followed the vote.
“Even a 10 percent chance that there could be a leak is catastrophic. And I look at it that way — if there is a chance, and there is a leak, you did your whole city in tonight,” said George Craig. “To me, this is a sin. It never should have happened. It never should have gotten this far.”
“I just pray that our water will remain safe in Torrington. And I hope that, voting the way that you did tonight, for those of you that approved this, get a good’s night sleep — because I know there’s a lot of people in Torrington tonight that will not sleep well,” said Bridget Beauchaine. “I am ashamed that you did not represent the residents of Torrington when they spoke so loudly.”
“I’ve lived here since 1987, and I’ve been really proud to live here. Tonight, I’m not so proud,” said Jean Nadle. “There is no reason to say yes to this project. It does not benefit Torrington in any way... (those that voted for it) I’m really distressed by your vote. It’s despicable and deplorable.”
The pipeline is to run in Goshen from Route 63 to Pie Hill Road, then to East Street South and Route 4, crossing into Torrington, then to Lovers Lane and Riverside Avenue. Woodridge Lake submitted its application in January after months of deliberation.
Woodridge Lake Sewer District Vice President James Mersfelder said Monday that the group was pleased with the council’s decision. It addresses “the elephant in the room” for the housing development, which has lingered for 20 years. He said that the WLSD would continue to comply with requirements imposed by DPH.
“We will continue to support the efforts of the public health order, which are going to guarantee, I think, a safe project for the city,” said Mersfelder.
A portion of the pipeline would run through the watershed area for the Allen Dam reservoir, which is used by the Torrington Water Co. The water company sent a letter to customers voicing opposition to the proposed route in October 2016, saying a break in the line could discharge raw sewage and affect the reservoir.
Torrington Water Company President Susan Suhanovsky said she was disappointed with the council’s decision, calling it “shortsighted as far of the future of Torrington and the safety of our watershed.”
“Hopefully, we’ll be able to be at the table when it comes to the inter-municipal agreement and making sure that our watershed is protected,” said Suhanovsky.
The water company will continue to use the Allen Dam reservoir in the same fashion moving forward, drawing upon it in times of drought, emergency, and increased demand, Suhanovsky said.
The proposal was approved contingent on the submission of final design plans for the pipeline and the negotiation of an intermunicipal agreement between the city and Woodridge Lake.
Mayor Elinor Carbone said this was one of the most difficult decisions that the City Council, acting in this instance as the Water Pollution Control Authority, could make.
Carbone said that Litchfield and Harwinton already connect to the Torrington system, and it could be considered prejudicial to deny another municipality when other state agencies have given the go-ahead to the project. It was possible that DEEP would mandate that the city take on the pipeline, rather than allowing it to control the process, she said.
“It’s absolutely a very difficult decision to make,” said Carbone. “I don’t think there was a single person on this board that didn’t lose sleep over this decision, and I feel very strongly that we have received our mandate from the public to make sure that this is done, constructed in such a way as to protect that public health.”
Adding the hundreds of additional sewer accounts from Woodridge Lake would drive down the percapita costs of running the system, Carbone said.
Carbone said the safety measures included in the pipeline minimizes the risk, and that the city would demand that Woodridge Lake take on pollution insurance, conduct annual spill drills, as required by DPH, and use consultants to ensure that construction is proceeding as appropriate.
“What we all know is yes, anything can happen. Yes, there can be a leak; yes, there can be a break. All we can do as human beings is use our best efforts to mitigate the potential for that happening,” said Carbone.