GALLOWS HILL AQUIFER IN BROOKFIELD, CONNECTICUT
HVCEO - Housatonic Valley Council of Elected Officials |
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A report completed in 1980 by Flaherty-Giavara entitled "Potential Well Sites- Town of Brookfield" focused on the northern aquifer, formally named the Gallows Hill Aquifer by HVCEO during this period. It noted that municipal water quality standards for wastewater had been incorporated into the zoning regulations, but that in addition "The concept of a protection zone as an overlay district providing for more stringent standards should be seriously considered." The 1980 report recommended three sites as having a potential for being used as a well field. These were 1) approximately 50 acres east of the Still River between the River and the railroad tracks, 2) on the eastern side of Route 7 below the International Lubricants Co. plant, and 3) east of Route 7 northerly by the International Lubricants Co. Plant. This report concluded "Based on existing data (not verified by pumping tests to determine the potential water yield and the quality of water) it is believed that there are three sites in Brookfield's northern aquifer suited for the installation of public water supply wells. However, a decision to acquire any of these should be made only after on-site investigations are conduced and in-depth analysis is made of the water needs and a method of distribution for the Town of Brookfield." Then in 1988 Brookfield funded a $12,500 study by Leggette, Brashears & Graham, Inc. entitled "Gallows Hill Aquifer Study." This effort involved use of small seismic shock waves and exploratory drillings. The report concluded that "the best location for construction of a public supply well is in the vicinity of test wells 10 and 11" (west of Route 7 and just north of Limekiln Brook). The recommendation was that the Town "Acquire approximately two acres of land in the vicinity of test wells 10 and 11." This aquifer was evaluated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1981 as a potential outlying water supply source for the City of Danbury. Of seven aquifers near Danbury, Gallows Hill was determined to be the potentially most costly to develop, due in part to the over of eight miles of six inch force main pipe that would be needed. In the early 2000's the zoning approval for Brookfield's Newbury Village Condominiums, on the east of Route 7 in the Gallows Hill Aquifer, stated that "The applicant shall provide an easement.. for the installation of two or more wells to augment or establish any future public water supply system in the area, the right to construct maintenance and control structures thereupon, and the right of vehicle access thereto. It is the intent of this requirement to make available to the public in the area a viable additional source of water for domestic and fire protection purposes." Source: Special Stipulation - 901 Federal Road P.A.R.C. #200200697. As this aquifer is not presently in use, it is not subject to the proposed CT DEP aquifer protection program.
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