CT commits $85 million to repair Harford flooding, sewage issues
HARTFORD – Gov. Ned Lamont and his administration Monday committed $85 million in state funding from the state’s Clean Water Fund and Clean Water Fund-related funding for a pilot program that will address sewage overflows in streets and basements in North Hartford, where residents have been chronically impacted by the long-term recurrence of flooding.
The Clean Water Fund is administered by Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, and the Clean Water Fund is used by the state to provide financial assistance to municipalities for projects addressing wastewater.
The money will be applied to 12 projects proposed by the Metropolitan District to increase protections from sewer and stormwater-related flooding and backups in North Hartford, with the projects estimated to cost $170 million in total.
Lamont said that he is pleased the state can release significant state funding to Hartford’s North End, which has been disproportionately impacted by sewer overflows for decades.
“I’m grateful to DEEP, the Hartford delegation, the MDC, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the community leaders in Hartford for working together to make progress on this complex but critically important issue,” he said.
Hartford residents plagued by flooding and sewage issues see glimmer of hope for help
U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal said that flooding and sewage backup in Hartford’s North End is not only a wastewater infrastructure issue – it is an environmental justice issue and a fairness issue.
“Addressing this problem requires a combination of both short and long-term solutions and a continued partnership between elected officials, community members, and our state and federal agencies. I am proud to see the first step in a series of actions to provide reimbursement and repairs to North End residents and will commit action at the federal level to continue to implement improvements,” he said.
House Speaker Matt Ritter, D-Hartford, said that this is a major victory for residents of Hartford’s North End who have lived with flooded basements and sewage backups for years.
“Our goal was to get residents immediate relief as well as have a long-term plan to improve Hartford’s infrastructure…and to get residents immediate relief as well as have a long-term plan to improve Hartford’s infrastructure,” Ritter said. “The Hartford legislative delegation was able to work with residents, advocates, DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes, and Governor Lamont to come up with significant funding.”
DEEP confirmed that by providing this funding, MDC anticipates the remaining funding for these projects will be covered within the current MDC rate structure, with no impact on current rates. Five projects are slated to begin in 2023, six projects will begin in 2024, and one project will begin in 2025.
Of the total $170 million needed for flood mitigation in North Hartford, $73 million is estimated to perform private property infrastructure improvements on over 3,500 properties, with backflow preventers and emergency sewer lateral repairs available, where needed. The Connecticut Office of the Treasurer, the Clean Water Fund manager, has worked with DEEP to secure funding for the pilot private property infrastructure improvements.
U.S. Rep. John Larson, D-1, said he commends Lamont and the the General Assembly for helping homeowners impacted by basement flooding and sewage backups in the North End for their work to start new programs with state and federal funds to protect homes from property damage, prevent sewage backups, and help homeowners defray costs associated with necessary repairs.
“I am pleased that the state has decided to dedicate Clean Water Act funding we secured in Congress to support these efforts,” he said. “North End residents faced indiscriminate flooding in their homes at no fault of their own. I urge affected homeowners to apply for assistance when it becomes available to help defray the costs of home repairs and protect their properties from future damage.”
Mayor Luke Bronin said the investment in the stormwater and sewer infrastructure will make a big difference for residents and businesses.
“This package includes funds to reimburse residents and small business owners who suffer damage from flooding, and it includes funding to make improvements in the ancient infrastructure that’s just not able to handle the kind of storms we routinely see today. I’m grateful to Speaker Ritter, Governor Lamont, our Hartford delegation, the MDC, and above all to the activists and residents who spoke up and made this happen,” he said.
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