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North Hartford Sewer Improvement Projects Information

MDC URGES NORTH HARTFORD CUSTOMERS TO OPT IN TO FREE SEWER HOUSE CONNECTION PROGRAM
Private Property lining/repairs in Tower Avenue Project Area to begin

For Immediate Release
(HARTFORD, CT) – The Metropolitan District (MDC) is urging residents in its Tower Avenue Sewer Rehabilitation project area to participate in the Sewer House Connection Program. The program is part of the MDC’s Integrated Plan that was recently approved by the CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP), which regulates and funds a portion of the work associated with the Clean Water Project, the multi-billion-dollar sewer infrastructure upgrade program. A major change to CT DEEP’s policy regarding funding for the current phase of the program was to allow partial funding for improvements to MDC customer’s private property consisting of that portion of the sewer house connection extending from the home to the property to the property line. As part of North Hartford Sewer Improvement Projects, MDC and its contractors will inspect and line, and if necessary repair, the sewer house connection at no cost to the customer.

The Tower Avenue Sewer Rehabilitation project involves lining the sewer main in the street and each sewer house connections, as well as making sewer point repairs of sewer manholes and reconnecting catch basins to the stormwater system. Sewer lining stops groundwater from getting into pipes (through cracks and leaks), improves the structural integrity of the pipe, and reduces risks of blockages. Upon completion, a customer’s renewed sewer house connection could last an additional estimated 50 years. MDC outreach staff has canvassed the project area over the past several months to inform residents about the construction and request permission to do the private property work. It is important to note that MDC’s contractors will not line the sewer house connections located on a customer’s private property without this written permission. If a customer does not opt in to the program, any future work to private property lateral may be completed under the Sewer House Connection Program, and would likely be a more disruptive and costly method of repair, including excavation on your property.

MDC’s contractor will begin lining the sewer main line and house connections in the Tower Avenue area starting the week of October 9 on the following streets: Ashford, Addison, Greenwich and Rosemont. Outreach staff will also be reaching out to the next set of streets in the project area which includes Rutland, Cambridge, Melrose and a portion of Tower.

Residents of those streets in the project who have not yet opted into the program and wish to do so should contact MDC Outreach Liaison Mandisa Walker at (860) 797-0370 or mandisa@moodyconsultingfirm.com.

The Independent Consumer Advocate will hold his annual public forum on Wednesday, October 11, 2023 at 5:30PM.

The purpose of the meeting is to report on the Advocate’s activities and receive consumer feedback.

The forum will be held in person at the District Headquarters, located at 555 Main Street, Hartford 06103 and will also be available on Webex.
Dial in: 1 (415) 655-0001
Access Code: 980 274 00#

Webex: Anyone who wants to join via Webex can find the link posted on the advocate’s website on the day of the forum: https://themdc.org/independent-consumer-advocate/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ev00CoRdV78

PDF Download of Schedule

The MDC’s District Board and subcommittees now have a dedicated YouTube Channels for all of the public meetings.
www.youtube.com/@MetropolitanDistrictCommission

The meetings are also organized on the Channel by Committee in “Playlists”.
https://www.youtube.com/@MetropolitanDistrictCommission/playlists

Previously, only District Board meetings were recorded and posted on the main YouTube channel youtube.com/@MDCHartford.

The @MDCHartford channel will still feature content on the MDC’s water and sewer service, customer issues, programs and FAQs.

As a reminder, all public meetings can be attended, live in person, online via webex or telephonically.

For information and applications please visit the State Comptroller’s website, which states applications will be accepted beginning September 1.
https://osc.ct.gov/hartfordflood/

(Note to customers, the MDC is not administering this program)

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NORTH HARTFORD SEWER IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS UNDERWAY
Multiple assistance programs available to MDC customers

(HARTFORD, CT) – The Metropolitan District (MDC) announced today that it is working with the State Comptroller Sean Scanlon’s office on the Hartford Flood Compensation Program, stated that that the North Hartford Sewer Improvement projects are underway, and reminded customers about having their homes assessed for backwater valves to protect against sewer backups.

State Comptroller’s Hartford Flood Compensation Program

Legislation passed earlier this year established the Hartford Flood Compensation Program. The charge of this grant program is providing financial assistance or reimbursement for things such as repairs to eligible owners of real property in the city of Hartford who experienced damage caused by flooding.  Comptroller Scanlon announced yesterday that the application process will be available beginning September 1, 2023. “MDC is proud to be working with Comptroller Scanlon, Dr. Rhule, and our representatives on this initiative to assist Hartford residents,” said MDC CEO Scott Jellison. For more information, visit osc.ct.gov/HartfordFlood/.

North Hartford Sewer Improvement Projects
Earlier this year, MDC agreed with CT DEEP on a consent order for the sewer project schedule with a goal to begin construction in July. As promised, preliminary work on the first sewer separation project on Durham Street in Hartford started in July.  Additional separation projects, sewer rehabilitation projects and private property improvements in North Hartford are scheduled to begin soon as well.

MDC recently hired two Hartford-based community outreach firms through an RFQP process to assist with facilitating information to residents and community groups about the impact of the sewer improvement projects planned for their neighborhoods. Janice Flemming and Karraine Moody, who head each of the firms selected, have previously done community outreach on behalf of the MDC’s Clean Water Project.

Sewer Backup Prevention – Backwater Valve Program
MDC’s backwater valve program helps customers avoid sewer backups into their homes. MDC staff performs on-site assessment of the property’s internal plumbing setup in order to apply the best solution available.  The property assessment and any improvements installed are free of charge for any eligible customer. For information on the program, visitthemdc.org/utility-services/backwater-valve-program/.

Jellison stated, “Our backwater valve program can prevent sewer backups in basements. While it can’t stop street flooding or prevent stormwater and groundwater from entering homes, it can provide protection for your home from sewage backups. This program, combined with the larger planned construction projects such as sewer separation, sewer rehabilitation and other private property work, will make real improvements to the infrastructure for our customers in North Hartford.

The Metropolitan District Commission recently approved an ordinance that established a “House Connection” Program that will support new sewer house connections and address failing private property sewer house connections by allowing for the installation of new or renewed (i.e., replaced or rehabilitated) sewer house connections on private property to be funded by the District. Previously, private property sewer house connections were paid for by the homeowner. As a result of the MDC’s collaboration with our regulators, this program is now available for Clean Water Fund grants.

See links for preliminary information.

Resolution language from July 12 District Board Meeting

Presentation July 12 Bureau of Public Works on House Connection Program

Press Release
S&P Rating Report
Moody’s Rating Report

Ratings upgraded for second year in a row ahead of July 27 Bond Sale

July 21, 2023

For Immediate Release

(HARTFORD, CT) – Chief Executive Officer Scott W. Jellison announced today that Moody’s Investors Service and S&P Global Ratings have released their ratings on the District’s upcoming and outstanding bonds. Moody’s Investor Service affirmed its Aa2 rating on the MDC’s outstanding clean water revenue bonds and upgraded its Aa3 rating on its outstanding and upcoming general obligation bonds to Aa2, while maintaining its stable outlook for all rated debt.

S&P Global Ratings affirmed its AA rating on the MDC’s outstanding clean water revenue bonds and its outstanding and upcoming general obligation bonds, while maintaining its stable outlook for all rated debt. 

The MDC sought these ratings in advance of an $84.7 million bond sale planned for July 27, 2023. These bonds will finance $37.7 million in water projects, $32.3 million in sewer projects, and $14.7 million in combined funding projects. 

The ratings from Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s represent a high-grade rating awarded by each of these agencies.  Because of these ratings, the MDC is assured of receiving favorable interest rates when it issues bonds to finance its capital projects. 

“I am proud to report these favorable ratings to our member towns, staff and bond holders. This is the second year in a row that we have received bond rating upgrades. In 2022, S&P upgraded its AA- rating to AA for our revenue bonds and this year Moody’s has upgraded its Aa3 rating to Aa2 for our general obligation bonds. These upgrades demonstrate our prudent fiscal management of our member towns and rate payers’ resources and ensure the lowest possible borrowing costs for our investments in our infrastructure,” said CEO Jellison. 

The rating reports issued by the two credit rating agencies present a thorough, objective, and independent analysis of the MDC’s financial operations and credit strength. 

S&P Global Ratings indicated that its rating reflects the MDC’s “affluent service area, along with strong historical financial performance” and its debt service obligations benefit from management’s ability to finance its operations from a “diverse revenue stream [which] helps distribute costs over a wide base of users and helps with affordability considerations.”

Moody’s reports that its rating reflects the “MDC’s solid financial operations” and lists the MDC’s credit strengths to include an ample water supply, treatment capacity and healthy financial operations.

PRESS RELEASE: Northwest Connecticut Land Conservancy, Save the Sound reach agreement with MDC to protect 5,500 acres

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