Wastewater study called necessary for Montville

Montville - For the town to have a wastewater facility capable of supporting future development, it must create a plan.

And while there are currently no projects on the horizon that would trigger a review of the Water Pollution Control Authority's facilities and no cost estimate associated with upgrades or expansion plans, planning for the possibilities is vital, according to WPCA officials.

On Thursday night, representatives from URS Corp. and the Maguire Group, two consulting groups working with the WPCA, held an informational hearing at the Town Hall.

There are more than 76 miles of sewer piping and 22 major pump stations tied into the WPCA system, according to a brochure distributed for the hearing. Two big users - Rand-Whitney Containerboard and the Mohegan Tribal Utility Authority - have dedicated pipelines and have contributed to the infrastructure costs.

The system is responsible for treating 2.7 million gallons of residential, commercial and industrial wastewater a day, according to the consultants.

While doing so, it also must comply with state and federal regulations, according to Richard Kruczek of URS and Alan Asikainen of the Maguire Group.

As they work on how best to meet all their goals, the WPCA is also working with planning officials to make sure the wastewater plans do not conflict with the ongoing update of the state-mandated Plan of Conservation and Development.

Town Planner Marcia Vlaun, who spoke after the presentation, said the development and conservation plan wants to be strict in where it allows future development. By restricting some areas - such as where there is a watershed or conservation easement - it will prohibit the WPCA from extending its sewers.

Vlaun said planning officials would like the WPCA to concentrate any expansion plans in the Uncasville and Route 32 area and discouraged them from extending into the more rural western section of town.

Asikainen said this could be done by placing a sewer avoidance designation on those areas.

A final draft of the WPCA plan is due in January, with a public hearing to be scheduled for February.

m.bard@theday.com