HARTFORD, Conn. – The Metropolitan District Commission (MDC) will be conducting its state-mandated annual watershed sani-tary survey and inspection program beginning in late March. The purpose of the program, which will continue through November, is to prevent contamination of the MDC’s drinking water supplies as a result of, among other things, septic sys-tem failure, erosion, runoff, and other potential pollutants.
Routine watershed sanitary surveys are required by Section 19-13-B102(b) of the Connecticut Public Health Code.
The Barkhamsted Reservoir is located in Connecticut but the watershed area that drains to the Reservoir includes lands located within the Towns of Granville and Tolland, Mass. As a result, property inspections will take place in the towns of Tol-land and Granville beginning in late spring.
Routine field inspections take only a few minutes and will be conducted by MDC’s Watershed Inspector who carries appro-priate MDC identification and drives an authorized MDC vehicle. The Inspector does not enter homes; the inspection is limited to the exterior portions of the real property.
If a violation or a problem is detected, it is reported to the property owner and town officials. Information about faulty septic systems will be forwarded to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, as required by law.
Property owners may receive more information by contacting the MDC Watershed Management Unit, Barkhamsted Water Supply Division at 860-379-0916 extension 3105 or 860-278-7850 extension 3105.
