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Access a legend for the map below
Source of Map: Water Resources Inventory of CT, Part 6, Upper Housatonic River Basin, by the
U. S. Geological Survey and the CT Department of Environmental Protection, 1972.

THIS IS AN EARLY (1972) GENERALIZED MAP OF ESTIMATED AQUIFER BOUNDARIES ONLY;
COMPARE IT TO LATER DATE USGS SURFICIAL MATERIALS MAP


The East Aspetuck Aquifer is bordered on the south by the confluence of the East Aspetuck
and Housatonic Rivers. This aquifer extends on both sides of the plain bisected by
Aspetuck Ridge Road, from the railroad track spurs into the Century Enterprise
Center southeasterly to the railroad bridge over Housatonic Avenue.

HISTORIC BASE LINE DATA: 1980 HVCEO
REPORT ON EAST ASPETUCK AQUIFER
Soil compositions vary, but the lower reaches of the East Aspetuck Aquifer are predominantly fine-grained. The major uses are: (0.9 square mile) large heavy industrial complex (brass manufacturing), several small industrial and commercial establishments, residential and vacant.

Sources of potential or identified problems include: 4 industrial discharge sites (Boardman Road and East Aspetuck Aquifers), one each; 1 industrial waste disposal area (metals).

The present Town sewerage system covers the immediate central, built-up area only (limited to the New Milford Center Aquifer); extensions have been planned, however, and are likely to reach northward a short distance in the East Aspetuck Valley (East Aspetuck Aquifer).

The significance of this aquifer site derives not only from its depth and favorable composition, but from the major recharge potential of the Housatonic and other streams. Several of these Housatonic riverbank sites have been recommended for exploratory drilling by the consulting engineers.

The substantial growth potential of New Milford and the inadequacy of its present surface water supplies (four very small reservoirs on Second Hill) lend considerable urgency to the problem of reserving sufficient sources of good quality water to meet future public needs.

For both east and west bank aquifers in the Housatonic River in central New Milford, some of the major potential problems, which may be anticipated to affect these aquifers, include: intensive commercial and industrial development (all 6 sites, but especially concentrated in the Indian Field Aquifer; Pickett District Aquifer; Boardman Road Aquifer; and East Aspetuck Aquifer); new Route 7 expressway and interchange (Boardman Road and East Aspetuck Aquifers: siltation and road salt); sewage treatment plant enlargement and/or relocation.

Given the large amount of aquifer land zoned for future commercial and industrial uses, controls sufficient to protect groundwater resource will not be easy to enact or enforce.

Serious consideration should be given to discouraging or entirely eliminating permission for, all potentially harmful uses on aquifer recharge areas: in particular, those types of industry and commerce which store, use or produce quantities of hazardous material: (such as chemicals, solvents, fuels, dyes, resins, paints and lacquers, metallics, etc.), and also those which produce toxic wastes of any kind. Appropriate uses to encourage, as alternatives, include corporate offices, light research and productive activities not involving the use of pollutable materials.

Other key measures should include: extension of the sewer system to serve all major uses and intensively developed areas within these aquifer areas; reduction of permitted development intensities (increase lot size establish at least 50% limits on impervious site coverage); prohibit all industrial waste disposal and harmful discharges; eliminate or severely control storage of salt, chemicals and other hazardous materials; vigorously conserve existing wetlands and flood plains; require storm water filtration and recharge.

WATER SUPPLY STATUS AS OF 2006
The following overview was developed for the HVCEO in 2006 by Donald Smith of the water supply planning firm Roald Haestad, Inc. of Waterbury, CT:

"The Water Resources Inventory of Connecticut. Part 6, Upper Housatonic River Basin, prepared by the US Geological Survey in 1972 shows stratified drift aquifer in the Aspetuck River valley at the mouth near the Housatonic River. The report shows depths of saturated stratified drift of 80 feet or more, which potentially could yield significant quantities of water with the development of wells.

Depending on the yield of the wells, this source could have some regional significance as it would serve United Water Connecticut in New Milford, which is connected to Brookfield, and in the future may be extended to the Danbury system."