The Metropolitan District (MDC) will be conducting its state-mandated annual watershed sanitary survey and inspection program beginning in April. The purpose of the program, which will continue through November, is to prevent contamination of the MDC’s drinking water supplies as a result of septic system failure, erosion, runoff, and other potential pollutants.
Routine watershed sanitary surveys are required by Section 19-13-B102 (b) of the Connecticut Public Health Code.
Property inspections will take place in the towns of Barkhamsted and Hartland on the Barkhamsted Reservoir watershed; in New Hartford, Burlington, Harwinton, Torrington and Winsted on the Nepaug Reservoir watershed; and in the towns of Avon, Simsbury, Bloomfield and West Hartford on the West Hartford and Reservoir No. 6 watersheds.
Routine field inspections take only a few minutes and will be conducted by MDC’s Watershed Inspector who carries appropriate MDC identification and drives an authorized MDC vehicle. The Inspector does not enter homes; the inspection is limited to the exterior portions of the real property. In 2023, the MDC inspected 1020 watershed properties.
If a violation or an issue is detected, it is reported to the property owner and health officials as required by law. Property owners may receive more information by contacting the MDC Watershed Management Unit, Barkhamsted Water Supply Division at 860-278-7850 extension 3120. A video short on the watershed program is available on the MDC’s YouTube Channel.
Download PDF of Press Release (CT)
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