News

MDC ASKS CUSTOMERS TO ENROLL IN PAYMENT PLANS TO AVOID SHUTOFFS
Water bill assistance funds also available

For Immediate Release
Download Press Release PDF

(HARTFORD, CT) The Metropolitan District (MDC) will return to the practice of water service shutoffs for delinquent accounts beginning the week of June 5th.  Help is available to assist customers with outstanding balances.  To assist customers who are still struggling to pay past due bills, MDC is reminding customers to sign up for a payment plan with our customer service staff to avoid a shut off. In addition, multiple water bill assistance programs are available that can reduce or eliminate delinquent balances. 

“First and foremost, we want our customers with hardships to know that if they are enrolled in a payment plan, they will be removed from the shutoff list. Customers may also qualify for water bill assistance with our partners, Operation Fuel and the Community Renewal Team,” stated MDC CEO Scott Jellison.

A water shutoff moratorium was put in place in March of 2020 to assist with COVID-19 related hardships and ensure access to clean drinking water to promote public health and safety during the pandemic. The shutoff moratorium ended in September of 2021. While initial shutoff notice letters have been sent out, the shutoffs are scheduled to begin next week.

If customers receive a shutoff notice and have a hardship, we ask that they contact MDC customer service at (860) 278-7850 and press 2 to make a payment or set up a payment plan. 

Payment Plan and Shutoff information:

https://themdc.org/payment-plans-and-shutoffs/

How to Pay Your Bill Information
https://themdc.org/billing-services/how-to-pay-your-bill/

Water Bill Assistance Programs:

Operation Fuel
(860) 243-2345 (or call 211 to find the nearest fuel bank)

www.operationfuel.org/gethelp

Low Income Housing Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP)
The Community Renewal Team
(860) 560-5600
www.crtct.org

MDC’s Lake McDonough beach in Barkhamsted will not open for Memorial Day weekend due to a shortage of lifeguard staff to safely operate the area. Lake McDonough requires lifeguards and does not have a “swim at your own risk” policy.

While the beach area has not been open the last two years as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the boat launch has remained open.

The beach area will remain closed until further notice. MDC has not made a decision for the remainder of the season yet as we attempt to address the lifeguard staffing and recruitment issues that other entities across the state have experienced as well. While the MDC regrets any inconvenience, this action is necessary to ensure the safety and security of our staff and the public.

The boat launch remains open seven days a week.

For more information see website:
https://themdc.org/lake-mcdonough/

Tom Tyler, MDC Director of Facilities, was recently featured on a podcast: “The Future of the Water and Waste Water Industry / Careers You Never Heard About” to discuss the MDC, his own career and the importance of getting more people involved in water and wastewater!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4mwLoq1YoI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9YYhSa6A04&t

MDC Payment Plans and shutoff information page

MDC URGES CUSTOMERS TO APPLY TO STATE WATER BILL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
Funds available to eligible households in MDC towns
May 10, 2022
For Immediate Release
Download Press Release PDF

(HARTFORD, CT) – The Metropolitan District (MDC) is urging customers with overdue and unpaid balances on their water bills to apply for financial relief via the Connecticut Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP). LIHWAP is a one-time water assistance grant program available to eligible households and is being administered by the State Department of Social Services (DSS) and several community action agency partners. The regional partner for the MDC is the Community Renewal Team, Inc. (CRT) Hartford area office. According to DSS, applications for the program will be accepted through June 30, 2022.

Information on the LIHWAP program, how to apply and eligibility is available on the DSS website:
https://portal.ct.gov/DSS/Highlights/Low-Income-Household-Water-Assistance-Program-Coming-to-CT

MDC customers can also contact the Community Renewal Team (CRT) directly at (860) 560-5600 or at crtct.org/ for questions about the program.

“We want customers facing financial hardships to be aware that there are assistance programs available to them,” said Scott Jellison, MDC CEO. The most important step for customers with a past due bill balance is to sign up for a payment plan with the MDC. Payment plans have been available to our customers even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. The LIHWAP program gives our customers yet another resource.”

Financial assistance is available for customers in the MDC towns of Bloomfield, East Hartford, Hartford, Newington, Rocky Hill, West Hartford, Wethersfield, Windsor, Glastonbury, South Windsor, Farmington and East Granby.

In addition, MDC customers can also contact our partners at Operation Fuel to determine eligibility for water bill assistance at www.operationfuel.org/gethelp to locate an Operation Fuel bank nearby in the Online Fuel Bank Finder or call 211 to find a fuel bank near you.

The Connecticut Department of Social Services, along with their community action agency partners, is accepting applications through June 30 for the state’s first Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program.

Get help paying your water bills. Households with annual income at or below 60 percent of the state median income can qualify for this one-time water assistance benefit. There is no asset limit. Help is available for both drinking water and wastewater bills. If you receive benefits from the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program, SNAP, TFA, SSI, State Supplement, or Refugee Cash, then you likely meet income requirements.

See the following links for information on the program.
Program Overview
How to Apply
Informational Flyer

MDC customers with questions about applications and eligibility should contact:

Community Renewal Team, Inc. (CRT)
Hartford Area (860) 560-5600
www.crtct.org

Season Passes for boating at Lake McDonough can now be purchased online at https://mdcrecreational.square.site/
You must also complete an online Registration Form when you purchase a season pass at: https://mdcrecreational.square.site/forms-and-agreements

Please note that single day passes must still be purchased on site at Lake McDonough.

For information on the rules and regulations of boating and fishing at Lake McDonough, please see webpage.

2022 Boat Launch Hours:
Saturday, April 9: 6AM – 8PM (OPENING DAY)
Sunday, April 10: 10AM-8PM.
Weekends only for remainder of April: 10:00AM – 8PM
Daily: 10AM – 8PM (May 2 – September 5)
Please check banner at the top of the MDC website and MDC Facebook or Twitter for weather-related closings and openings of Lake McDonough.

Press Release with Schedule
HazWaste Information Packet 2022
HazWaste Information Page

MDC ANNOUNCES SCHEDULE FOR HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE COLLECTION PROGRAM
2022 schedule with participating town information

April 7, 2022
For Immediate Release
(HARTFORD, CT) – Each year, the Metropolitan District (MDC) provides its customers with an environmentally-friendly initiative, the Household Hazardous Waste Collection (HazWaste) program. The 2022 HazWaste Program is scheduled to begin Saturday, April 30.

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 2022 and residents of any participating towns can partake in any collection date.

Participating towns for 2022 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.

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

Hydrant Flushing Information page