(a) For purposes of this section, “safe yield” means the maximum dependable quantity of water per unit of time that may flow or be pumped continuously from a source of supply during a critical dry period without consideration of available water limitations.
(b) No source of water supply shall be abandoned by a water company or other entity without a permit from the Commissioner of Public Health. A water company or other entity shall apply for such permit in the manner prescribed by the commissioner. Not later than thirty days before filing an application for such permit, the applicant shall notify the chief elected official of any municipality and any local health department or district in which such source of supply is located. Not later than sixty days after receipt of such notification, the municipality or municipalities and local health departments or districts receiving such notice, and any water company as defined in section 25-32a, may submit comments on such application to the commissioner. The commissioner shall take such comments into consideration when reviewing the application.
(c) (1) In determining whether to approve an application, the commissioner shall (A) consider the water supply needs of the water company, the state and any comments submitted pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, and (B) consult with the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection, the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management and the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority. The Commissioner of Public Health shall not be required to make a consultation pursuant to subparagraph (B) of this subdivision if the commissioner determines the source of water supply to be abandoned is a groundwater source with a safe yield of less than ten gallons per minute and is of poor water quality.
(2) The Commissioner of Public Health shall grant a permit upon a finding that any groundwater source with a safe yield of less than 0.75 millions of gallons per day, any reservoir with a safe yield of less than 0.75 millions of gallons per day, any reservoir system with a safe yield of less than 0.75 millions of gallons per day, or any individual source within a reservoir system when such system has a safe yield of less than 0.75 millions of gallons per day will not be needed by such water company for present or future water supply and, in the case of a water company required to file a water supply plan under section 25-32d, that such abandonment is consistent with a water supply plan filed and approved pursuant to said section. No permit shall be granted if the commissioner determines that the source would be necessary for water supply by the company owning such source in an emergency or the proposed abandonment would impair the ability of such company to provide a pure, adequate and reliable water supply for present and projected future customers. As used in this section, a future source of water supply shall be considered to be any source of water supply necessary to serve areas reasonably expected to require service by the water company owning such source for a period of not more than fifty years after the date of the application for a permit under this section.
(3) The Commissioner of Public Health shall grant a permit upon a finding that any groundwater source with a safe yield of more than 0.75 millions of gallons per day, any reservoir with a safe yield of more than 0.75 millions of gallons per day, any reservoir system with a safe yield of more than 0.75 millions of gallons per day, or any individual source within a reservoir system when such system has a safe yield of more than 0.75 millions of gallons per day is of a size or condition that makes it unsuitable for present or future use as a drinking water supply by the water company, other entity or the state. In making a decision, the commissioner shall consider the general utility of the source and the viability for use to meet water supply needs. The commissioner shall consider any public water supply plans filed and approved pursuant to sections 25-32d and 25-33h, and any other water system plan approved by the commissioner, and the efficient and effective development of public water supply in the state. In assessing the general utility of the source, the commissioner shall consider factors including, but not limited to, (A) the safe yield of the source, (B) the location of the source relative to other public water supply systems, (C) the water quality of the source and the potential for treatment, (D) water quality compatibility between systems and interconnections, (E) extent of water company-owned lands for source protection of the supply, (F) types of land uses and land use controls in the aquifer protection area or watershed and their potential impact on water quality of the source, and (G) physical limitations to water service, system hydraulics and topography.
(P.A. 85-336, S. 2, 6; P.A. 93-381, S. 9. 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; P.A. 98-157, S. 12, 15; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 04-2, S. 44; P.A. 07-217, S. 119; P.A. 11-80, S. 1; 11-242, S. 70.)
History: P.A. 93-381 replaced commissioner of health services with commissioner of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 98-157 added provision requiring consideration of potential impairment of present and future water supply for granting permit to abandon a source, effective July 1, 1998; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 04-2 divided existing provisions into Subsecs. (b), (c)(1) and (c)(2), added Subsec. (a) defining “safe yield”, added provisions in Subsec. (b) re procedure for permit and notification to municipality, amended Subsec. (c)(1) by adding requirement for commissioner to consider water supply needs of state and comments received from municipalities, amended Subsec. (c)(2) to provide basis for commissioner's decision on application for abandonment of smaller sources of water supply, added Subsec. (c)(3) re basis for commissioner's decision on application for abandonment of larger sources of water supply, and made conforming and technical changes; P.A. 07-217 made technical changes in Subsec. (c)(3), effective July 12, 2007; pursuant to P.A. 11-80, “Commissioner of Environmental Protection” and “Department of Public Utility Control” were changed editorially by the Revisors to “Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection” and “Public Utilities Regulatory Authority”, respectively, in Subsec. (c)(1), effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 11-242 amended Subsec. (b) by requiring notice to local health department or district, by allowing local health department or district to comment on the application and by making technical changes and amended Subsec. (c)(1) by designating existing provisions re consideration and consultation as Subparas. (A) and (B), by adding provision re exception to consultation requirement when water supply source to be abandoned has a safe yield of less than 10 gallons per minute and is of poor water quality and by making technical changes.
Structure Connecticut General Statutes
Title 25 - Water Resources. Flood and Erosion Control
Section 25-19 to 25-24. - Pollution of waters.
Section 25-32a. - “Consumer” and “water company” defined.
Section 25-32b. - Public drinking water supply emergency.
Section 25-32c. - Civil penalty.
Section 25-32d. - Water supply plans.
Section 25-32f. - Testimony by commissioner on municipal actions. Appeals.
Section 25-32g. - Orders to correct immediate threats to public water supplies.
Section 25-32h. - Residential retrofit program, civil penalty.
Section 25-32i. - Residential Water-Saving Advisory Board.
Section 25-32j. - Installation of reduced-pressure-principle backflow preventers, when required.
Section 25-32m. - Sale of bottled water by water company or municipality.
Section 25-32n. - Water service to a school administration building from a well.
Section 25-33a. - State grants for water facilities. State bond authorization.
Section 25-33b. - Regulations re loans and grants to water companies.
Section 25-33c. - Legislative finding.
Section 25-33d. - Definitions.
Section 25-33e. - Delineation of public water supply management areas.
Section 25-33f. - Water utility coordinating committees. Membership.
Section 25-33h. - Coordinated water system plan. Regulations.
Section 25-33i. - Consistency with plan. Restriction on approval of public water supply system.
Section 25-33j. - Contract for services to water utility coordinating committee.
Section 25-33l. - Sale of source, potential source or abandoned source of water supply.
Section 25-33n. - Annual report on water planning process.
Section 25-33o. - Water Planning Council: Composition, duties, advisory group, report.
Section 25-33p. - Annual report on Water Planning Council.
Section 25-33q. - List designating sources or potential sources of water that require protection.
Section 25-34. - Investigation of water or ice supply.
Section 25-35. - Enforcement agents.
Section 25-36. - Orders of department; appeals; civil penalty.
Section 25-37a. - Legislative finding and purpose.
Section 25-37b. - Definitions.
Section 25-37c. - Regulations. Classification of land owned by or acquired from a water company.
Section 25-37e. - Duties of commissioner re permit applications.
Section 25-37f. - Report to General Assembly.
Section 25-37g. - Prohibition of sale of certain water company owned land.
Section 25-37h. - Notification of security interest required.
Section 25-38. - Carcass of animal in water supply.
Section 25-39. - Pollution of drinking water.
Section 25-39b. - Installation of vinyl-lined pipe restricted. Report by commissioner.
Section 25-39d. - List of hazardous substances to be submitted to health director.
Section 25-39e. - Restriction on use of lead solder in potable water systems. Sale of lead solder.
Section 25-40. - Analysis of water. Schedule of fees, when applicable.
Section 25-40a. - Notification of violation of national primary drinking water standards.
Section 25-41. - Cemetery not to be within one-half mile of reservoir.
Section 25-42. - Power to take lands and streams.
Section 25-43. - Bathing in and pollution of reservoirs. Aircraft on reservoirs. Penalties.
Section 25-43a. - Penalties applicable to one not owner, lessee or guest.
Section 25-43b. - Power of Department of Public Health not affected.
Section 25-43c. - Permitted recreation in watersheds and reservoirs.
Section 25-43d. - Taking water from or tampering with hydrant or reservoir. Penalty.
Section 25-44. - Appointment of special police.
Section 25-45. - Local ordinances concerning reservoirs.
Section 25-46. - Interstate waters used for drinking water supply.
Section 25-51. - Injunction against injury to water supply or source.
Section 25-52. - Cemeteries not to be near ice ponds.