https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzUAVph2o7s

The Metropolitan District’s (MDC) recreational facilities will have limited hours for the upcoming Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s holidays.

Hours at the West Hartford Reservoir, located at 1420 Farmington Avenue; Reservoir #6, located off Route 44/Albany Avenue in West Hartford, and the West Branch Reservoir in Hartland will be limited per the following schedule:

November 28, Thanksgiving (CLOSED)
December 24, Christmas Eve (CLOSED at 12PM)
December 25, Christmas Day (CLOSED)
December 31, New Year’s Eve, (CLOSED at 12PM)
January 1, New Year’s Day (OPEN)

Press Release

Please see below and attached. The bridge over the MDC’s Nepaug Dam in New Hartford will be closed for recreation this Wednesday, November 6 for an inspection.

The road on each side of the dam will remain open for recreation.  This is to protect the safety and security of everyone. We thank you in advance for your patience and understanding.

2024 Q3 Report (July 1 to September 30, 2024)
Thursday, December 12, 2024 Meeting
Meeting Agenda
Integrated Plan Reporting Information page

Public Hearing Notice for 2025 Proposed Budget, Water & Sewer Rates and Revisions to Ordinances

2025 Proposed Budget Materials Page

MDC TO TEST GOODWIN DAM FLOOD WARNING NOTIFICATION SIRENS
Annual Goodwin Dam test scheduled for October 29
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(HARTFORD, CT) – The Metropolitan District’s (MDC) flood warning notification sirens, located at the Goodwin Dam Hydroelectric Powerhouse in West Hartland and adjacent to the Grange Hall in the Riverton section of Barkhamsted, will undergo routine testing and public sounding on Tuesday, October 29, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. and again at 7:00 p.m. This public sounding will affect the communities of West Hartland, Colebrook, Riverton and a portion of Barkhamsted.

Each scheduled test will begin with a voice message broadcast through the warning notification sound system stating, “The following warning tones are a test of the Goodwin Dam to Riverton Evacuation Siren System. In the event of an emergency situation at the Goodwin Dam, the following alarm tone would be sounded. This is only a test. This is only a test.” Several soundings may be necessary to fully exercise the system and each test is anticipated to last no longer than five minutes.

The test will conclude with the message stating “This announcement concludes the testing of the Goodwin Dam to Riverton Evacuation Siren System. This was only a test. This was only a test.” The MDC takes responsibility for the safety and well-being of our customers very seriously and regrets any inconvenience that the noise may cause to residents during the testing period.

The tests are part of the MDC’s Goodwin Dam Emergency Action Plan and are required by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for all hydroelectric power facilities. The testing has been fully coordinated with local emergency response agency officials. Questions regarding local emergency preparedness agency evacuation plans should be directed to local Police and/or Fire Departments.

MDC ANNOUNCES COMPLIANCE WITH NEW EPA LEAD RULES

Online map of water service line inventory database available
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(HARTFORD, CT) – The Metropolitan District (MDC) announced steps taken in the compliance with the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR).  The LCRR officially goes into effect on October 16. A key component of the rule requires water providers to identify any lead materials in their drinking water system and must make an online inventory of water service lines publicly available.  A water service line is the pipe that conveys water from the water main in the street to where it first enters the building, which has a Customer (private) side and a utility/MDC (public) side.

MDC drinking water does not contain lead when it leaves our water treatment plants and complies with all EPA drinking water regulations. While the safety of our water has not changed, EPA’s LCRR requires water utilities to verify the materials that the service lines are made of at each individual property and a further update to the rule requires that any lines found to contain lead are to be replaced, all by 2037. Internal plumbing is the responsibility of the homeowner.

While the majority of our over 100,000 service line records in the inventory are lead-free, there were four service lines that were found to contain lead which have already been replaced in cooperation with the homeowners, prior to the deadline set by EPA. However, there are approximately 15,000 records where the service line materials are unknown and will require further on-site investigation whether the unknown materials are on the customer or MDC side of the line. MDC is also offering to test internal plumbing for lead as part of those inspections.

Although MDC has already begun reaching out to customers to expedite identification of unknown service line materials over the past few months, all customers with either side of their service lines identified as having “unknown” materials will receive a letter from the MDC in November. This letter does not necessarily mean the service line has lead, but that it needs further investigation.

Customers confirmed to have an unknown service line on the Customer Side can identify the materials on their own with an online reporting survey or schedule an inspection by calling an MDC representative at 860-808-2347 or emailing LeadFree@themdc.com. If there is an unknown material only on the Utility Side, MDC will contact the customer.

In addition to compliance with the new rule, the MDC Board of Commissioners voted at the September 9th meeting of the District Board to fund the replacement of water service lines found to have any lead, which is not a requirement of the LCRR.

To be clear, MDC’s water is safe to drink as it has been for over 90 years. In addition to removing any service lines found to contain lead, it’s important to note that MDC has had corrosion control measures in place for decades.  MDC drinking water is treated with an orthophosphate-polyphosphate blend at its water treatment facilities which helps reduce the likelihood of lead leaching from service lines or internal plumbing as it makes its way to the faucet and is added at levels approved by the State of Connecticut Department of Public Health.

“The good news is our customers can remain confident about the high quality of our water and our proactive water treatment measures. MDC and its Board have chosen to replace any water services found to have lead at the MDC’s expense, which is not required by the LCRR program.  We’ve already replaced the handful of lines identified with lead and stand ready to work diligently with our customers to identify the remaining unknowns,” said MDC CEO Scott Jellison.

MDC Chairman Donald Currey stated, “I appreciate my fellow board members supporting our customers by making funding for replacement of lines when necessary. While we recognize the importance of additional measures to protect our customers, we also realize the potential impact of the cost for homeowners.  Enacting this ensures better public health for our customers while keeping affordability in mind.”

For questions, please contact LeadFree@themdc.com.

For more information, see links below.
Water Service Line Inventory Map
Lead Information
Identify Your Service Line Self-Reporting Survey
EPA Website

The MDC’s online interactive map includes an inventory of over 100,000 drinking water service lines within the MDC’s distribution system. A water service line is the pipe that conveys water from the water main in the street into a property. The map is provided as a service to customers and in compliance with the EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule Revision.

Water Service Line Inventory Information Page link (Learn about how to use the inventory map tool)

Direct Link to Water Service Inventory Map

West Hartford Sanitary Sewer Evaluation Survey Project Information Page

Press Release
Durham Street Information Flyer

First North Hartford sewer project completed ahead of schedule

(HARTFORD, CT) – The Metropolitan District (MDC) announced today that it recently completed the Durham Street Sewer Separation Project, the first of the North Hartford Sewer Improvement Projects, part of the $170 million Integrated Plan, a consent order with the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP). The Integrated Plan is the current phase of the MDC’s Clean Water Project, a multibillion-dollar effort to reduce combined sewer overflows and improve the overall efficiency of the sewer system.

The Durham Street project, located in the Granby / Blue Hills area of North Hartford, broke ground in July of 2023 and included $1.9 million in sewer infrastructure improvements. In addition, private property protection for basements, lining of sewer house connection laterals as well as a new water main were part of the project. The project was completed a year and a half ahead of schedule. Project outreach by MDC staff and contractors was key to keeping residents informed throughout the construction process for both public right of way and private property improvements. Thirty-eight percent of the work hours on the project were performed by Hartford residents, exceeding the self-imposed goal of thirty percent set by the MDC. Two other sewer separation projects as well as three large scale sewer
rehabilitation projects are currently underway in North Hartford with more planned for 2025.

“Projects like Durham Street, combined with sewer rehabilitation projects and other private property work will continue to make substantial improvements to the infrastructure for our customers in North Hartford.
While I am pleased to have completed this first project, it is important to keep the momentum and progress moving,” said MDC CEO Scott Jellison.

MDC Chairman Donald Currey stated, “Maintaining partnerships with our customers, neighborhood groups, and state and local officials has helped the MDC demonstrate that we can get substantial projects completed
that meet our regulatory requirements, while providing a community benefit at the same time.”