BETHEL, CT 2007
TOWN PLAN AQUIFER TEXT
The 2007 Bethel, CT Plan of Conservation and Development has a section entitled "Protect Aquifers and Groundwater," as follows:

Wellhead areas are well sites that produce a source of public water. These are
the areas that the CT DEP refers to as aquifers. Areas of high groundwater
availability are areas where geologic conditions may be appropriate for the
development of future public water supplies. In Bethel, the Inland Wetlands and
Waterways Commission (IWC) has the responsibility for protecting aquifers and
groundwater.

The Commission recommends that the IWC adopt Aquifer Protection Overlay
Zones for the Aquifer Protection Areas (APA), once the Aquifer Protection
mapping has been completed. Aquifer Protection zones should prescribe uses
according to the potential risk each use poses. As the Commission revises its
Zoning Regulations, we shall ensure that our regulations addressing
sedimentation and erosion control are consistent with the practices
recommended and required by the 2002 Connecticut Guidelines for Erosion and
Sedimentation Control.

Pollution of groundwater from incompatible land uses, accidents, or the
introduction of common groundwater contaminants another concern of the
Commission. The Commission recommends that the IWC consider adopting
regulations to protect areas identified as high groundwater areas.

BETHEL, CT 1997
TOWN PLAN AQUIFER TEXT
The 1997 Bethel, CT Plan of Conservation and Development has a section entitled "Watershed and Aquifer Protection." All of the text that follows is excerpted from that section:

Because the Dibbles Brook, East Swamp, Limekiln Brook and Sympaug Brook Aquifers are an essential natural resource and a major source of public drinking water in Bethel, their protection is paramount. Additional protection measures could include a stratified drift aquifer overlay zone, a residential fuel tank control ordinance, and a hazardous materials management ordinance. The town should also investigate its salt storage facilities and salt spreading measures.

Bethel should create a local aquifer and watershed program, delineating all local aquifers and watersheds. The following recommendations will help to initiate this program. (See Figure 15, Aquifer and Watershed Protection: Proposed Regulatory Measures).

Regulatory Measures in Zoning
1. Environmentally sensitive vacant land and currently non-industrial properties in the I zone located within the recharge area of the... Well Field should be rezoned as low density residential land (R-80). The existing high risk facilities, such as the two industrial uses should be closely regulated. Any expansion of existing industrial activities will be required to comply with the Groundwater Ordinance.

2. The R-20 and R-40 single family residence zones within the recharge area should be modified to prohibit high risk land use activities which are currently allowed though special exception uses. Any further development of schools, nursing homes and hospitals should be prohibited within zones situated in recharge areas.

3. Stratified Drift Aquifer Overlay Zone - Bethel’s program should rely upon an aquifer delineation overlay zone to identify protection areas where specifically designed land use regulations will be applied to ensure protection of its groundwater supply. The inclusion of this overlay zone in the zoning code is a very important step in the protection of this vital resource. The regulations should govern the use of lands over the primary and secondary recharge areas of Bethel’s stratified drift aquifer.

Within this zone, certain high risk activities are prohibited outright, while others are allowed conditionally. Permitted and regulated uses should be delineated, classification systems should be employed, development densities should be limited, underground fuel storage tanks should be prohibited, and street salt dumping and the disposal of household chemicals into septic tanks should be carefully monitored.

BRIDGEWATER, CT 2001
TOWN PLAN AQUIFER TEXT
One charge of the Plan is to "Consider protection of existing and potential public surface and ground drinking water supplies." Goals are to "Protect surface water and ground water quantity and quality."

BROOKFIELD, CT 2001
TOWN PLAN AQUIFER TEXT
According to the 2001 Brookfield Plan of Conservation and Development "To protect water quality, Brookfield has established an Aquifer Protection Overlay District as part of the Zoning Regulations. The regulations apply to identified aquifer areas and regulate or prohibit certain types of activities."

Continuing, "Continue to protect water quality and water resources in Brookfield by regularly reviewing the aquifer protection zone regulations to ensure adequate protection for aquifer areas."

DANBURY, CT 2002
CITY PLAN AQUIFER TEXT
The 2002 Danbury, CT Plan of Conservation and Development has a section entitled "Environmental Protection- Aquifers." All of the text that follows is excerpted from that section.

An aquifer is a geologic formation found bedrock or stratified rift that is capable of yielding water to the earth’s surface through wells. Danbury’s major aquifers are Great Plain, Still River West, Lake Kenosia, Sugar Hollow, East Swamp and parts of Still River Middle, and Upper Saugatuck.

Wellfields are subsections of major aquifers, defined as the area immediately surrounding a public drinking water supply well(s) and the region where the water supply is most vulnerable to contamination. In 1993, the Connecticut State Legislature enacted new laws designed to ensure a plentiful supply of drinking water for present and future generations by preventing contamination of ground water in areas around public wells. The Act required the Department of Environmental Protection to adopt comprehensive land use regulations and for the City to comply with a four-phase process, as follows:

1. Preparation of detailed maps (Level A) and general maps (Level B) depicting areas of contribution of recharge areas for all existing and proposed public water supply wells in stratified drift. The Level B maps... were prepared under the direction of the Department of Public Utilities and approved by DEP in 1991.

2. Authorization of the Planning commission by Common Council to act as the municipal aquifer protection agency, giving them responsibility for the implementation of the various requirements involving land use issues.

3. Preparation of an inventory of existing land uses in the subject areas within one year of the adoption of aquifer protection regulations by the state. Following approval of the Level B maps, DEP entered the maps into their geographic information system and allowed the City to use the maps generated by the system to prepare the inventory. The city is expected to update the inventory every five years.

The most important result of the land use survey will be the identification of the existing and former locations of high risk land uses that entail the handling, use, storage, or disposal of large quantities of solvents, petroleum products, pesticides, or hazardous chemicals. Examples of such uses include automobile service stations, dry cleaners, machine shops, and waste disposal sites.

4. Designation of an Aquifer Protection Area as an overlay zone and preparation of aquifer protection regulations based on model regulations prepared by DEP. These tasks will clearly identify the protected areas and prohibit or regulate high-risk uses, as appropriate.

Although the Level B maps are completed, the Level A maps have yet to be prepared. To assist the City with other aspects of the program, DEP will develop related model land use regulations, prepare digitized maps of protection areas, provide technical training for City staff and educational programs for the general public, and prepare guidelines for municipal purchase of land around public wells.

Both {well fields} will serve as auxiliary groundwater sources. The {First} is used to maintain the water level in the West Lake Reservoir between Memorial Day and Labor Day on an ‘as needed’ basis... shore.

The {Second} well is a single well with chlorination and fluoridation facilities on site. Treated water from this well is used when reservoir levels are low or when a filtration plant is operating at a reduced rate.

The DWD has completed the state-mandated Level ‘B’ mapping of the aquifers supplying these wells, and is planning to undertake the required Level ‘A’ mapping. The analysis of the aquifers and their safe yield analyses will be presented in the 2001 update of the Water Supply Plan.

NEW FAIRFIELD, CT 2003
TOWN PLAN AQUIFER TEXT
The New Fairfield Plan became effective 7/15/2003. It has the following text regarding aquifers in the Town:

"Protecting groundwater quality is an important objective of the since properties in New Fairfield generally rely on wells for their water supply. Some groundwater resources have already been negatively impacted by land use activities (septic failure and/or contaminant spills) and are not suitable for human consumption without treatment.

Protecting water quality is especially important in areas capable of supporting high yielding wells. New Fairfield contains three coarse-grained stratified drift aquifers with high groundwater availability. Regional studies have identified the largest of the three small aquifers in New Fairfield as the Short Woods Brook Aquifer (0.4 square miles). It is included as one of 26 major aquifers in the ten-town Housatonic Valley region."

Continuing, "The Short Woods Brook Aquifer is located just north of the Town Center and contains coarse-grained material that may be conducive to development of a public water supply well. In fact, HVCEO has concluded that, by virtue of its location, the Short Woods Brook Aquifer could potentially provide a small central area water supply source for the Town.

To protect water quality, New Fairfield should adopt a regulation for the protection of aquifers and areas of high ground water availability to ensure that highest degree of water quality protection is met. Open space set-asides in new development and open space acquisition (possibly with the assistance of open space and other grant programs) are other tools that will protect aquifers and water quality."

NEW MILFORD, CT 1997
TOWN PLAN AQUIFER TEXT
The 1997 New Milford, CT Plan of Conservation and Development has a section entitled "Aquifers and Watersheds." All of the text that follows is excerpted from that section.

"Aquifers are underground water resource sites. Several such site have been identified in New Milford and are listed and described below. There are three major aquifer areas and there are some sub-areas within the larger resource area." The three areas are "Housatonic at Gaylordsville...Housatonic at New Milford .... Still River North.

The Housatonic Valley Association has prepared a water resource protection strategy for New Milford This strategy should be reviewed and discussed for possible adoption by the town.

Currently, United Water Company pumps an average of 437,000 gallons per day, with peak pumping demand of around 700,000 gallons per day. UWC’s wells have a sustained yield of 1,500,000 gallon per day.”

Continuing, “UWC is currently planning on developing a new well in the Pootatuck Aquifer, in the Sandy Hook area of Town and UWC is also considering the possibility of developing additional water resources outside of the Pootatuck Aquifer.”

Also, “In 2000 the PZC rezoned land in support of aquifer protection and sewer avoidance. The Town is currently considering making a request to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to update the 1978 USGS study of the Pootatuck Aquifer and further evaluate the affects of ground water withdrawal on aquatic habitat within the sole source Pootatuck Aquifer.” A Plan goal includes “updating the research and mapping of the Pootatuck Aquifer that was originally done in the late 1970's and early 1980's.”

According to the 2003 Newtown Plan of Conservation and Development the Town should “expand Newtown’s aquifer protection regulations to include the Pond Brook, Aspetuck and Halfway Rivers stratified drift aquifers.”

REDDING, CT 1998
TOWN PLAN AQUIFER TEXT
The 1998 Redding, CT Plan of Conservation and Development has a section entitled "Natural Resources and Their Limitations." All of the text that follows is excerpted from that section.

There are two major stratified-drift aquifers, where the receding glacier of fifteen millennia also laid down broad gravel terraces in deep valleys. These are found at West Redding Center and in Poverty Hollow. Along with nineteen smaller, shallower aquifers along various streams, these valuable groundwater reservoirs recharge adjoining streams, wetlands and the fractured bedrock which supplies most Redding homes with potable well water ....

Twenty-one stratified rift aquifers lie wholly or partly within the Town’s boundaries. Two of these, at West Redding along the Saugatuck River and at Poverty Hollow along the Aspetuck River, have major significance because of their size, depth and favorable transmissivity.

All aquifers, however, are important sources of groundwater recharge which supply local domestic wells. Those aquifers which lie along the Aspetuck, Little and Saugatuck Rivers are also recharge sources for public water supply streams.

Aquifers are highly prone to damage from development because of their rapidly permeable soils, frequently high water tables and easy-to-develop characteristics. Contamination introduced to a stratified drift aquifer can be transmitted through underlying bedrock fracture systems to both nearby and distant wells.

Great caution must be exercised in development of these area. Of the 4,100 acres of private undeveloped land in Redding, an estimated 179 acres (4%) is primary or direct-recharge area stratified drift aquifer.

Recommendation 4. of this section of the Town Plan advises to protect the Town’s groundwater resources by supporting aquifer protection districts and regulations, and also a requirement that the installation of new fuel tanks be above ground.

RIDGEFIELD, CT 1999
TOWN PLAN AQUIFER TEXT
The 1999 Ridgefield, CT Plan of Conservation and Development has a section entitled "Natural Resource Conservation" that discussed aquifers. All of the text that follows is excerpted from that section.

Stratified drift aquifers are geologic formations or deposits (generally sands and gravels) which store large quantities of groundwater and through which groundwater may be retrieved in quantities sufficient for public drinking supplies. Bedrock aquifers are areas of fractures and faults in underlying rock formations that typically yield small amounts of water adequate for low intensity uses.

The water quality and quantity of aquifers is particularly important to Ridgefield because most of the Town’s drinking water supply is dependent on them. As shown on the map, Ridgefield contains several area of high groundwater availability.

While some of these areas (such as the Upper Titicus Aquifer) may be adequately protected because they are primarily in a larger lot residential districts, other areas (such as Sugar Hollow aquifer) are located near business zones that allow potentially hazardous uses (such as gasoline stations, clothes cleaning establishments, restaurants, and printing establishments).

It is recommended that each of the major aquifers in the Town be the subject of an in-depth study of measures required to protect their viability as a water source, including specific land development controls. In addition, acquisition of land around aquifers should be a high priority in order to aid in their protection.

Existing programs such as the aquifer protection overlay zone and the residential fuel tank ordinance should be maintained. In addition, the Town should consider adopting an ordinance requiring the replacement of underground fuel storage tanks which are more than 20 years old. The early achievement of this goal can be aided by providing financial incentives such as tax abatements or low interest loans.

Protection of water quality is also an important goal in other areas of stratified drift and bedrock aquifers.

SHERMAN, CT 2001
TOWN PLAN AQUIFER TEXT
Stratified drift aquifers are very minor in Sherman and this topic is not addressed in the 2001 Town Plan.

MAIN WATER PAGE BETHEL BRIDGEWATER BROOKFIELD DANBURY
NEW FAIRFIELD NEW MILFORD NEWTOWN REDDING RIDGEFIELD SHERMAN