Information To Portland Water Customers
About Our Recent Connection to the MDC
Beginning November 14, 2000, the Metropolitan District (MDC) began providing drinking water to Portland residents. The Metropolitan District has been serving the Hartford region for the past 70 years, and is known for safe, dependable, and high quality water supply.
The following are some questions and answers about the project. If you have any further questions, please call Richard Kelsey, Director of Public Works in Portland at (860) 342-6734 or Matt Nozzolio, MDC Public Affairs Specialist, at (860) 278-7850, ext. 3209.
What will happen to my water when the connection is made?
When MDC water is pumped into Portland, flow patterns may change in certain pipes within Portland's water system. During the conversion, customers may experience a period of cloudy or discolored water. The condition is temporary and does not pose a health hazard. If you experience any of these problems with your water, please call the Water Division in Portland at 342-6734.
Why is the MDC providing water to Portland?
The Town of Portland had been faced with a consent order from the State to build a water filtration plant, as required by federal drinking water legislation, at an estimated cost of more than $7 million. In 1995, the Town of Portland requested that the Portland Water Division be supplied with MDC water. A less costly solution was an interconnection with the MDC. As a result:
· Portland will continue to use its existing well and will take water from the MDC as needed to supplement flows from the well;
· Portland will discontinue use of its reservoir;
· Portland will continue to own and maintain its own water system in the Town.
Where does the MDC's water come from?
The MDC's water comes entirely from surface water sources in watersheds that cover 89.7 square miles in Connecticut's Northwest Hills. The water supply uses the East Branch of the Farmington River and the Nepaug River, a tributary of the Farmington River. The reservoirs are: the 30 billion gallon Barkhamsted Reservoir and the 9 billion gallon Nepaug Reservoir. While the relatively remote location of the watershed reduces the potential for pollution, aggressive MDC source protection programs further ensure the quality of the reservoir supplies.
How does the MDC treat its water?
The MDC has always filtered its water supplies. The slow sand filtration plant off Farmington Avenue in West Hartford is the site of 22 underground filter beds. In the beds, water trickles down through more than three feet of sand and stones, where solids and microscopic bacteria are trapped. Additional treatment follows to kill any remaining bacteria.
The Reservoir 6 plant, off Albany Avenue in West Hartford and Bloomfield, is a rapid sand filtration facility. The system combines chemical treatment with filtration.
While chemical treatment is accomplished somewhat differently at each plant, there are four basic components in the treatment process that the plants have in common:
1. Disinfection through chlorination;
2. Fluoridation, which is mandated by the State Department of Public Health to help prevent tooth decay;
3. Filtration;
4. The adjustment of pH (level of acidity).
How will the MDC water be sent to Portland's system?
The MDC already serves a large portion of Glastonbury, as far south as Great Pond Road. The MDC constructed a pipeline to the Town of Portland's water system at the Town line in South Glastonbury. Portland undertook construction of improvements to its water system, including the installation of approximately 7,000 feet of water mains and the construction of two half million gallon water storage tanks.
What is the quality of MDC's water?
People served by The Metropolitan District receive water that meets all state and federal health and safety standards for drinking water.
MDC's state licensed laboratory annually conducts more than 100,000 physical, chemical and bacteriological tests on water from the MDC's reservoirs, treatment plants and numerous sampling sites from throughout the service area. These tests and those conducted at consulting laboratories ensure that MDC water is of the highest quality possible.
Where do I pay my water bill?
You will continue to pay your bill to the Town of Portland.
The Water Department is responsible for providing water to approximately 2200 users through approximately 40 miles of water mains. Water is supplied by the Town Reservoir and Glastonbury Road Well. An agreement was signed with the Metropolitan District Commission (MDC) to provide water to Portland through a new transmission main in South Glastonbury. A Diversion Permit Application was filed with the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for the interconnection with MDC, and approval is expected in the very near future. A new water main extension and new storage tanks at the Reservoir were recently completed. Below is a link to see some of the finished construction.
For more information regarding the water turnover contact Richard Kelsey, Director of Public Works in Portland at (860) 342-6734 or Matt Nozzolio, MDC Public Affairs Specialist, at (860) 278-7850 ext. 3209.