Federal funds could help East Lyme quench town's summer thirst for water

East Lyme — Federal funding will help jump-start a regional water interconnection project that could potentially alleviate East Lyme's water-supply problems.

U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney announced Monday at a press conference with East Lyme First Selectman Paul Formica and other town officials that $300,000 in new federal funding was released for the permit, design and construction of a water main between East Lyme and Waterford.

An agreement is in the works for East Lyme to send its excess water to New London nine months out of the year, and then for the town to be able to draw water back when it needs it the most, during the summertime.

East Lyme would send about 100,000 gallons of water a day to New London in the off-season. The East Lyme water, which is already tested, would be blended into New London's and sent into the city's system. New London, which draws its water from Lake Konomoc, would subsequently draw less water from the lake during that time.

Then during the summer months, when East Lyme needs additional water from Friday through about noon on Monday, the town would draw water from Konomoc. The town is short of about 30 million gallons over the course of the summer, according to town officials.

Formica estimates the project will cost between $8 million and $10 million. The money secured by Courtney is from the Energy and Water Spending bill.

"This is an opportunity to help fund the seed money for the project, the hard construction costs to get this started," Formica said.

Courtney, D-2nd District, said this is a difficult time to get funding. "The town did a fantastic job demonstrating why this is broad-based for the region," Courtney said. "This is a plan that incorporates a number of towns and systems."

Formica said it makes sense to do the project now, when construction projects are affordable.

"I've been screaming for years that we have a water shortage and we have to do something about it," Joe Mingo, a member of the Water and Sewer Commission for almost 30 years, said. "I think it (the project) is wonderful. It's good for the whole region."