Letter: Mill River's Future At Stake With Aquarion Plan

Dear editor,

Like me, if you’re a product of the Fairfield school system you’ve probably engaged in the River Lab curriculum that educates young students on the value of Mill River and wetlands, on how to advocate for their continued protection and to be good stewards of our environment. This unique program was founded by environmental pioneer Joy Shaw over 50 years ago, and it continues to be the gold standard in our country for fresh water education.

The Mill River is the town’s largest watercourse and one of Fairfield’s most significant natural features. It flows over an 8-mile course, winding through the center of the town.

A great deal of public funds and sweat equity have been invested into the restoration of Mill River and the adjacent 6-acre Exide property, which reflects how highly we value the river. Our group, FairPLAN, was instrumental in the cleanup, as were Fairfield and state leaders. However, the health of our river is at stake as Aquarion Water has an application to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection seeking approval to transfer up to 14.2 million gallons of water per day for 25 years from its Greater Bridgeport System to lower Fairfield County. If approved, this would double the water volume Aquarion currently diverts to those towns from Greater Bridgeport through their Southwest Regional Pipeline. It would also have serious and irreversible consequences for our beloved river and the habitat around it.

READ MORE: Fairfielders Speak Out Against Mill River Diversion Proposal

We also need to ask, is there really the need? Are water conservation efforts really being implemented and do the receiving towns really have more of a need than the towns sending the water? Is drinking water allowed in Greenwich and Darien to be used to water lawns and irrigate golf courses? How is water conservation enforced?

I urge Aquarion to change course on their application that would threaten the Mill River ecosystem.

I urge the Connecticut DEEP to reject the diversion request, or if approved, modify it and impose reasonable conditions:

a. Reduce the diversion by half to 3.5 million gallons diverted (as suggested by state Sen. Tony Hwang, R-28;

b. Reduce the duration to 10 years, review every five years;

c. Require Aquarion to restore and pay for the gauge at Mill River’s Duck Farm Road crossing (about halfway from the point of diversion to Long Island Sound);

d. Ensure an equal amount of water is released to make up for the diversion, but if it comes from the Bridgeport well fields, ensure they are cleansed of manganese contamination before any diversion, and make all records of post permit water quality and quantity accessible to the public;

e. Ensure that Cricker Brook, which flows between the point of diversion to Samp Mortar and Mill River, is protected from any further reduction in stream flow from Hemlock Reservoir.

By modifying the permit request and imposing conditions, we can be apprised of any future adverse impacts from the diversion, if a diversion is allowed, and then corrective action can be taken to avoid irreparable harm.

Sincerely,

Alexis Harrison

Co-President, FairPLAN