South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority

Regional Water Authority (RWA)
Formerly
 New Haven Water Company
Industry Water Utility
Founder Eli Whitney II
Headquarters New Haven, Connecticut
Area served
 South Central Connecticut
Website www.rwater.com

The South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority (RWA) is a public water supply utility in Connecticut, United States. The RWA supplies water in a 15-town region with a population of about 430,000. The RWA acts as a steward of the environment in the local region by protecting more than 27,000 acres of watershed lands it owns and promoting sustainability.[1]

The Regional Water Authority is a non-profit public corporation, but its core business was originally established and operated as the New Haven Water Company, a private business.

The RWA produces about 55 million gallons of water daily. One of its conduits is the Genesee Tunnel.

History

South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority's Lake Watrous in Woodbridge Connecticut reflecting West Rock Ridge shrouded in early morning mist. The dam and control building are in the distance on the far right.

The Regional Water Authority was originally established in 1849 as the New Haven Water Company. One of the company's founders was Eli Whitney II. In 1849, Whitney began construction of a dam that backed up the Mill River to form a reservoir, which is now named Lake Whitney. As population and demand for water in the Greater New Haven region continued to grow, it was recommended that a publicly-owned, regional water company be formed.[2]

The Regional Water Authority was established in 1977 by the Connecticut General Assembly and purchased the assets of the New Haven Water Company in 1980. In January 2008, The RWA merged with the former Ansonia division of Birmingham Utilities, which added Ansonia, Derby, and Seymour to its service area, which also includes the towns of Bethany, Branford, Cheshire, East Haven, Hamden, Milford, New Haven, North Branford, North Haven, Orange, West Haven and Woodbridge.

Reservoirs

Drinking water distributed by the RWA comes from 10 reservoirs and three aquifers. Over 80 percent of tap water in the RWA district originates from four reservoir systems: North Branford, Saltonstall, West River and Whitney. The rest of the RWA's water comes from wellfields that draw from the Quinnipiac and Mill River Aquifers located in Cheshire and Hamden, as well as the Housatonic River aquifer in Derby and Seymour.

Recreation Program

The RWA makes its watershed areas available for hiking, fishing and other activities through its recreation program. Recreation program permit holders can access more than 50 miles of trails and five reservoirs in nine recreation areas spread across 13 communities in Greater New Haven.[3] Revenue generated from the recreation program is used to support the RWA's conservation work.

RWA recreation permit holders are able to enjoy the following recreation properties: Lake Saltonstall, Maltby Lakes, Hamonasset, Sugarloaf Hills, Genesee, Big Gulph, Lake Bethany, Pine Hill and Lake Chamberlain. The RWA regularly holds fishing competitions, nature walks and other family-friends events for recreation permit holders.

HazWaste Central

On Saturdays from mid-May to October, the RWA opens HazWaste Central, the only permanent household hazardous waste collection facility in Connecticut. Residents from towns participating in HazWaste Central can drop off their household hazardous waste items for free.[4] Household hazardous waste items include: kitchen and bathroom cleaning products, nail polish remover, gasoline, paint thinner, antifreeze, auto batteries, used motor oil, latex and oil-based paints, pesticides, batteries, fluorescent light bulbs and more. Once hazardous waste items have been turned over, they will be safely disposed of through incineration, placement in special landfills, or recycled and reused if it is possible to do so.

HazWaste Central helps protect the water resources in Greater New Haven, while providing cost-effective municipal services. Because the chemicals are safely collected, the land and important waterways are not polluted. Current HazWaste Central participating towns are: Bethany, Branford, East Haven, Fairfield, Guilford, Hamden, Madison, Meriden, Milford, New Haven, North Branford, Orange, Wallingford, West Haven and Woodbridge.

References

  1. ↑ "About Us". Regional Water Authority. Retrieved 2018-07-02.
  2. ↑ "Lifestream for a Region: History of the Regional Water Authority". Regional Water Authority. Retrieved 2018-07-02.
  3. ↑ "Recreation". Regional Water Authority. Retrieved 2018-07-02.
  4. ↑ "Connecticut Regional Water Authority". Regional Water Authority. Retrieved 2018-07-02.
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