Connecticut Water and Avon Water Sign Agreement to

Interconnect Water Systems

Contingent upon state agency permit approvals

               CLINTON, CONNECTICUT, November 10, 2008 – Connecticut Water Company and the Avon Water Company have entered into a water purchase and sale agreement which would enable Connecticut Water to purchase up to 1 million gallons of water per day from Avon Water.  The interconnection would enable Connecticut Water to supplement the water supply that currently serves its Collinsville water system customers in the town of Canton and portions of Avon and Burlington.

Terrance P. O’Neill, Connecticut Water’s vice president, Service Delivery, said the interconnection of the two systems is mutually beneficial.  “By integrating our water systems, we can more than double the water supply that’s available to our Collinsville customers to meet peak demands,” he said.  “And the interconnection provides a more sustainable water supply solution that allows both companies to meet customers’ needs while maintaining and protecting our water resources.”

Robert W. Wesneski, president, Avon Water Company, said the ability to deliver water between the two systems is a logical step and a sound engineering solution to improve water service to customers of both companies.  “During a fire, the interconnection would enable us to withdraw water from Connecticut Water’s Huckleberry Hill storage tank,” he said.  “This provides us with another emergency supply option and enhances fire protection and public safety.” 

The agreement requires the companies to split the cost for the construction of a metering pit, which is needed to measure the amount of water being delivered between them each month.  A new pumping station also must be constructed to move water across Avon’s water system to Connecticut Water’s system, with Connecticut Water funding up to $500,000 toward that project. 

Prior to constructing the necessary infrastructure, regulatory agency approval needs to be obtained, including a sale of excess water permit from the Department of Public Health and a diversion permit from the Department of Environmental Protection.

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Connecticut Water Company serves nearly 300,000 people in 54 towns in Connecticut including; Ashford, Avon, Beacon Falls, Bethany, Bolton, Brooklyn, Burlington, Canton, Chester, Clinton, Colchester, Columbia, Coventry, Deep River, East Granby, East Haddam, East Hampton, East Windsor, Ellington, Enfield, Essex, Farmington, Griswold, Guilford, Haddam, Hebron, Killingly, Killingworth, Lebanon, Madison, Manchester, Mansfield, Middlebury, Naugatuck, New Hartford, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook, Plainfield, Plymouth, Portland, Prospect, Somers, South Windsor, Stafford, Stonington, Suffield, Thomaston, Thompson, Tolland, Union, Vernon, Voluntown, Waterbury, Westbrook, Willington, Windsor Locks and Woodstock.

Avon Water Company has 4,700 service connections serving approximately 14,000 people mostly within Avon, the southern portion of Simsbury and the portion of the Farmington Woods Condominium Complex in Farmington.