News

The MDC’s Water Bureau adopted a new fee schedule for 2023 that lowers the rates for Lake McDonough boat launch passes.

The cost of a one-day pass is $10 per boat for residents and $20 for non-residents. Note: Two kayaks or canoes are allowed per vehicle.

There is also an option for a season pass which is $40 for residents and $100 for non-residents. 

Residents are defined as someone who is a resident of the MDC’s Member Towns, Non-Member Towns or Watershed Towns: Bloomfield, East Hartford, Hartford, Newington, Rocky Hill, West Hartford, Wethersfield, Windsor, East Granby, Farmington, Glastonbury, South Windsor, Barkhamsted, Colebrook, Hartland and New Hartford.

Notice: The Lake McDonough Beach and Swimming Recreation Area remains closed for 2023 due to a lack of lifeguards.

For more info:
https://themdc.org/lake-mcdonough/

MDC ANNOUNCES SCHEDULE FOR HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE PROGRAM
2023 schedule with participating town information

For Immediate Release
April 24, 2023
Download Press Release and Schedule PDF

(HARTFORD, CT) – Each year, the Metropolitan District (MDC) provides its customers with an environmentally-friendly initiative, the Household Hazardous Waste Collection (HazWaste) program. The 2023 HazWaste Program is scheduled to begin on Saturday, April 29.

The MDC collects hazardous waste and disposes of it through safe, environmentally responsible practices which in turn protects the health of our communities and the environment. The MDC will hold ten collection dates in 2023 and residents of any participating towns can partake in any collection date.

Participating towns for 2023 include: Bloomfield, East Granby, East Hartford, Hartford, Newington, Rocky Hill, West Hartford, Wethersfield, Windsor and Windsor Locks. See schedule for dates, times and locations.

For more information about the HazWaste program, including a downloadable information packet that lists eligibility requirements, types of materials accepted and more, visit https://themdc.org/what-we- do/environment-health-safety/household-hazardous-waste-collection or call the HazWaste hotline at (860) 278-3809.

RECENT TESTING DETECTS NO PFAS IN MDC WATER
Initial 2023 sampling shows no PFAS, consistent with previous test results

For Immediate Release
April 10, 2023
Download PDF

(HARTFORD, CT) – The Metropolitan District (MDC) takes water quality very seriously, and remains committed to providing our customers with the highest quality potable water through source protection, treatment, compliance monitoring and reporting of analytical results. MDC uses rigorous testing as part of its annual water quality report and continues to meet or exceed drinking water standards year after year.

MDC is currently reviewing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) recent announcement of a proposed National Primary Drinking Water Rule to provide a nationwide regulation for six per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) compounds.  PFAS are not currently a regulated compound.

MDC is taking steps to monitor for PFAS in advance of the proposed rule. The EPA uses a program called the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR) to monitor for the highest priority unregulated contaminants in Public Water Systems (PWS) across the United States every 5 years. Water samples are collected and analyzed for 29 specific PFAS substances (including the six listed in the proposed EPA rule) as part of the requirement of this year’s program called UCMR 5. The test period for UCMR5 allows until the end of 2025 to complete testing. 

MDC chose to begin testing this past January, which must be completed over four consecutive quarters. The initial preliminary results from the first quarter tests indicated none of the 29 PFAS compounds have been detected in MDC water samples. Three additional rounds of testing will be conducted by the end the year.  It should be noted that MDC also tested its water for six PFAS compounds as part of a previous round of UCMR testing in 2013 and 2014.  No PFAS were detected in any of the samples taken during that twelve-month period.

MDC’s surface water reservoirs are well protected as Connecticut is one of only two states that requires use of Class A water for drinking water purposes.  Class A water means that there are no wastewater discharges to the drinking water source or upstream.  In addition, MDC owns over 31,000 acres of land to protect its watershed and maintains a vigilant and aggressive watershed protection program, which includes over 1000 inspections a year which vastly reduces potential contamination. 

MDC is confident that not only is the water safe to drink, but it remains among the highest quality in the United States. MDC will continue to keep our customers informed on water quality standards for PFAS as they are developed by our regulators.

MDC’s Lake McDonough boat launch opens Saturday, April 8 for opening day of fishing season!

Boat Launch Hours:
Saturday, April 8: 6AM – 8PM (Opening Day)
Sunday, April 9: 10AM-8PM
Weekends only for remainder of April: 10AM – 8PM
Daily: 10AM – 8PM (May 1 – September 4)

For more details:
https://themdc.org/lake-mcdonough/

Season passes for the boat launch can be purchased online
https://mdcrecreational.square.site

April Bill Insert PDF (English)
April Bill Insert PDF (Spanish)

Press Release PDF
Work Notice & Map PDF
Work to gather preliminary data in advance of Drainage Study

March 31, 2023
For Immediate Release

(HARTFORD, CT) – Beginning the week of April 10, the Metropolitan District’s (MDC) consultant CDM Smith and their subcontractors will be working in the Blue Hills / Granby, Asylum Hill and West End neighborhoods to perform video inspections and flow metering of the existing combined sewer systems.

Flow metering devices will be installed throughout the project area and monitored periodically over the course of 10 to 12 weeks. Some of the work is located on public easements off the road. At times, it will be necessary for staff to walk within the easement areas to conduct the work. Entry into buildings is not required and field staff will have proper identification.

The data from the inspections and metering will be used to initiate and perform the preliminary work associated with a planned drainage study of the area. The purpose of the drainage study is to provide the necessary information to begin engineering design of future sewer separation projects.

The work is part of the MDC’s Integrated Plan, which is designed to not only meet regulatory goals of the Clean Water Project, an over $2 billion wastewater system upgrade focused on eliminating combined sewer overflows to local waterways, but to prioritize repairs and improvements of the existing sewer infrastructure in MDC Member Towns.

Property inspections to begin in the towns of Barkhamsted, Hartland, New Hartford, Burlington, Harwinton, Torrington, Winsted, Avon, Simsbury, Bloomfield and West Hartford

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3GuWA8V9dk

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 2022, the MDC inspected 1014 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)
Download PDF of Press Release (Mass)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuY-3RCW1Aw

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