BRIDGEWATER, CT
WATER SUPPLY AQUIFERS
Each of the ten municipal plans of conservation and development has policies towards aquifers. Bridgewater's and the other nine have been copied and placed into one regional file to facilitate comparisons.

1) Minor Aquifers: There are only minor aquifers in Bridgewater, scattered around the Town. These include the Hitchcock Mill Brook, Clatter Valley, Iron Ore Hill Road, Second Hill Brook and Shepaug River shoreland areas.

BRIDGEWATER, CT POTENTIAL
WATER SUPPLY WATERSHED
1) Shepaug River Watershed: At present there are no active water supply watersheds in Bridgewater. However, much of the eastern section of the municipality is within the Shepaug River Watershed which is designated by the state as a potential future water supply source.

This watershed gets special recognition as to the need for its protection in the 2001 Town Plan, First , the 2001 Plan recommended the implementation of additional buffer zones along Lake Lillinonah and the Shepaug River.

Then as a second step, the additional buffers are proposed to extend inland, to all of the watercourses and wetlands comprising the Shepaug River Watershed in Bridgewater.

CT DEP CLASSIFICATION
OF STREAMS IN BRIDGEWATER
The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (CT DEP) has developed water quality standards in conjunction with the principles of the federal Clean Water Act.

As a result each stream or water body in the Region has two classifications, one for existing use, and one for ultimate future use, written in a existing/future format such as "B/A" or "A/AA". The highest standards are reserved of existing and potential water supply areas, which are AA.

The DEP seeks to bring every water body in the State to a minimum classification of "B" or better, which would not be suitable for human consumption without treatment, but could be suitable for recreational use, fish and wildlife habitat, agricultural and industrial supply, and other legitimate uses.

There is a non degradation policy such that stream now AA or A cannot be reduced to B to allow discharges from industries or treatment plants. The classification system and application to Bridgewater is summarized below:

Class AA: Designated uses are existing or proposed drinking water supply, fish and wildlife habitat, some recreational use, agricultural and industrial supply. Discharges severely restricted.

Class A: Designated uses is potential drinking water supply; fish and wildlife habitat; recreational use; agricultural and industrial supply and other legitimate uses including navigation. Discharges severely restricted. No reclassification of A or AA allowed down to B.

Class B: Designated uses are varied and include discharges from industrial and municipal wastewater treatment facilities providing Best Available Treatment and Best Management Practices are applied. All water bodies must eventually reach the minimum standards of the B classification.

Classes C and D: Indicates unacceptable quality, the goal is Class B or Class A and DEP will issue orders to require improvement.

1. Housatonic River forming western boundary of Bridgewater (as Lake Lillinonah): D/B. The severe D rating is due to PCB contaminated bottom sediments.

2. Shepaug River tributaries reaching westerly into Bridgewater such as Hop Brook, Second Hill Brook, etc: A/AA.

3. All other streams in Bridgewater such as Clapboard Oak Brook, Hitchcock Mill Brook, Wewaka Brook, etc: A/A.

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