About GNHWPCA

The Greater New Haven Water Pollution Control Authority ("GNHWPCA") is a regional water pollution authority created under C.G.S. §§ 22a-500-519 (the "Act"). Any two or more municipalities may, pursuant to the Act, by concurrent ordinances of their legislative bodies, create a new regional authority. The legislative bodies of each of New Haven, East Haven, Hamden and Woodbridge adopted the concurrent ordinance on June 27, 2005, June 6, 2005, June 27, 2005 and June 15, 2005, respectively.

The Commissioner of the State Department of Environmental Protection and the Treasurer of the State of Connecticut approved the preliminary plan of operation of the GNHWPCA on July 28, 2005 thereby completing the final phase for the creation of the GNHWPCA. The GNHWPCA, pursuant to the Act, constitutes a public body politic and corporate of the State and a political subdivision of the State established and created for the performance of an essential public and governmental function.

The GNHWPCA was created to (a) operate the wastewater system including the treatment plant located at 345 East Shore Parkway, New Haven, and (b) use, equip, re-equip, repair, maintain, supervise, manage, operate and perform any act pertinent to the collection, transportation, treatment and disposal of sewage with respect to the constituent municipalities.

Table 1 below presents a summary of the residential population and number of customers of the Constituent Municipalities.

Table 1
Population and Customers of the Constituent Municipalities
Municipality
2000 Sewered
Population (1)
No. of Customers (2)
New Haven
123,630
21,988
Hamden
49,510
13,894
East Haven
25,650
7,999
Woodbridge
990
328
TOTAL
199,780
44,209
(1) Estimate based upon 2000 Census Bureau Data and the customers in each community that receive sewer service, as estimated by the municipalities.
(2) Based on South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority (RWA) data of water customers as of February 2004.

Currently, the GNHWPCA oversees the operation and maintenance of an extensive sewer system that includes 555 miles of pipeline, 30 pumping stations and an advanced secondary wastewater treatment plant with a capacity of 40 million gallons per day. Wastewater treated by the GNHWPCA at its East Shore water pollution abatement facility is discharged into Long Island Sound and must meet both federal and state effluent quality standards. The WPCA was organized to ensure the necessary professional technical and skilled personnel, specialized facilities and equipment, and financial resources are available to allow it to carry its mission:

"To provide reliable municipal wastewater services in compliance with applicable laws, in a cost efficient and effective method, and with the intent and desire to protect the environment and public health of the constituent municipalities." Furthermore, its operations are expected to be financially self-sufficient.

The Wastewater System assets of the Constituent Municipalities have been acquired by the GNHWPCA. The Wastewater Systems of the Constituent Municipalities include any device, equipment, appurtenance, plant facility and method for receiving, collecting, transporting, reducing, treating, reclaiming, disposing, separating or discharging sewage or the residue from the treatment of sewage. The Wastewater Systems may also include the purchase and/or lease of real estate and improvements thereto deemed necessary or desirable by the GNHWPCA for the purpose of establishing and providing wastewater management and water pollution control services.

Table 2
Summary of Wastewater Systems for Constituent Municipalities
 
 
Size/Number
 
New Haven
Hamden
East Haven
Woodbridge
Treatment Plant (1)
East Shore Plant (40 mgd)
N/A
N/A
N/A
Pump Stations
15
8
6
1
Siphons
1
2
5
0
Sewer Collection System (2)
275 miles
168 miles
105 miles
8 miles
Manholes (3)
6,600
4,400
3,000
275
Average Age of Collection System (4)
78 Years
75 Years
40 Years
60 Years
Average Daily Flow (5)
19.0 mgd
9.1 mgd
4.7 mgd
0.5 mgd
(1) The East Shore Plant provides treatment services for New Haven, East Haven, Hamden and Woodbridge. The Plant is now owned by the Greater New Haven Water Pollution Control Authority and is approximately 30 years old.
(2) Approximate miles of sewer pipe. New Haven has some combined sewer pipe. The other Towns only have separate sanitary sewers and storm sewers.
(3) Estimate based on information provided by the Constituent Municipalities.
(4) Estimate based on information provided by the Constituent Municipalities.
(5) Average daily flow over the past five years (1997-2002). East Haven flow includes flow from North Branford and Hamden flow includes flow from North Haven.

Source: GNHWPCA Preliminary Plan of Operations