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Smoke Testing Alert

Construction Alerts

GNHWPCA Smoke Testing Alert

Project SSR 2022-04: Westville-Whalley Sewer Study Smoke Testing

Project Area: New Haven-Westville Area: Along Whalley Ave, Fountain St, Valley St and connecting streets from Emerson St to W. Rock Ave (WARDS 25,27)

This project consists of conducting investigative analysis in the Westville area to identify potential source of extraneous water that discharge into the sanitary sewer system. This will include blowing white smoke into the sanitary sewer lines in the street and observing/recording where the smoke leaks out. This will help identify cost effective measures that the GNHWPCA, the City, the CTDOT, and the Community can take to help mitigate and manage exisiting and climate related increases in stormwater flows into the sanitary system.

For more information, including location map and sample door notice, click the Smoke Testing Links in the box to the right.

TIMING AND COORDINATION

Testing Start: Late March 2023

Duration: Four (4) Days of Testing

Schedule: Mon-Fri from 8 am to 5 pm

 

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Notice of Public Hearing October 13, 2021: Proposed Sewer Ordinance Amendments

News & Notices: Notice of Public Hearing

GREATER NEW HAVEN WATER POLLUTION CONTROL AUTHORITY    NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

The Greater New Haven Water Pollution Control Authority (the “GNHWPCA”) will meet at the offices of the Greater New Haven Water Pollution Control Authority, 260 East Street, New Haven, Connecticut on October 13, 2021 at 5:45 P.M., for the purpose of CGS Sections 22a-509(e) and 7-255 on amendments to the Sewer Ordinance  of  the Greater New Haven Water Pollution Control Authority.

Copies of said proposed amendments are on file open to public inspection at the office of the Greater New Haven Water Pollution Control Authority, 260 East Street, New Haven, Connecticut, as well as the offices of the City/Town Clerk for each of New Haven, East Haven, Hamden and Woodbridge.

Dated this 15th day of September, 2021.

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2021 GNHWPCA Environmental Stewardship Award

News & Notices: GNHWPCA Environmental Stewardship Award

Frank Panzarella honored with the 2021 Environmental Stewardship Award

GNHWPCA 2021 Environmental Stewardship Award
Sid Holbrook, GNHWPCA Executive Director (left) Clayton Williams, GNHWPCA Vice Chairman (center) present the GNHWPCA Environmental Stewardship Award to recipient Frank Panzarella (right) on Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2021.

The Greater New Haven Water Pollution Control Authority (GNHWPCA) has recognized Frank Panzarella for his service to the community and the environment with the first annual GNHWPCA Environmental Stewardship Award.

Frank, as part of the New Haven Bioregional Group, has provided training through demonstrations of installations and best practices for controlling stormwater pollution.  Frank and the New Haven Bioregional Group have given out over 300 rain barrels in the last few years.  Frank has been doing this work with the GNHWPCA for the last 5 years.  Vice Chairman Clayton Williams said, “This is a well-deserved recognition for a person who is engaged in so many other aspects of the community and he finds the time to improve the environment.”  Sid Holbrook, Executive Director said, “Frank exemplifies the type of work that brings together the environmental, social and economic wellbeing of the greater New Haven area.”  Franks devotion to the rain barrel program can be seen in his YouTube animation video of “The Rain Barrel Song”.  The Rain Barrel Song – Animation

In keeping with the GNHWPCA Mission and Strategic Plan goals which support Green Infrastructure through community activities, education, and implementation, the GNHWPCA recognizes individuals, groups and organizations that provide environmental stewardship in our region by working to improve the water quality.

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GNHWPCA Statement in Response to STS Filing

News & Notices

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 16, 2021

Contact:

Gary Zrelak, gzrelak@gnhwpca.com

PRESS RELEASE – STATEMENT IN RESPONSE TO STS FILING 

The Greater New Haven Water Pollution Control Authority (“the Authority”) is disappointed that Save the Sound (STS) is suing the Authority on the basis of a sewage spill caused by the collapse of one of our sewage collection pipes.  This past July 2020, while preparing to replace a sewer main along Whitney Avenue, Hamden, a section of that pipe collapsed allowing sewage to spill into the Mill River.  The line was isolated within 29 hours and sewage redirected to the system so that no additional spill could occur.  State and local officials were quickly notified and informed the public in accordance with the law.  Post spill monitoring of the Mill River, the confluence of the Mill and Quinnipiac Rivers and Long Island Sound showed no long term increased bacterial levels in the days following the spill.

The Authority has a robust policy of strategic and systematic operations, maintenance and improvements which are well documented since its regionalization in 2005. The service area consists of the municipalities of East Haven, New Haven, Hamden, and Woodbridge. The Authority’s service area consists of 550 miles of pipe, some dating back to the 1800’s, 30 pump stations, and a recently upgraded sewage treatment plant that collects and treats an average of 10 billion gallons of sewage annually.  The Authority has many tools to manage the system such as a Capacity, Management, Operation and Maintenance (CMOM) program which has been used as a template by EPA for other Municipalities.  The Authority’s complex system requires highly qualified personnel.  The Authority is inspecting and constantly monitoring our system on a 24/7 basis to ensure that sewage is conveyed, treated, and discharged in accordance with both Federal and State laws.

The Authority is funded by user fees from the ratepayers with significant contributions from the State of Connecticut for capital improvements through the CTDEEP Clean Water Fund.  It has maintained an excellent financial bond rating far exceeding most municipal peers.  

This litigation is misguided. The GNHWPCA is a Not-for-Profit entity, the burden of addressing this lawsuit will fall on the backs of our rate payers. It can only serve to distract us from our mission of protecting public health and the environment.  This lawsuit will divert our limited public funds from the maintenance and operations that are needed.  “The cost of this litigation will be a burden to our ratepayers, our system users and overall system operations,” said Sidney J. Holbrook, Executive Director of the Authority.  “No system is failsafe.  Our record is excellent, as proven by our CMOM manual being used as a model for other municipalities, and we never want to jeopardize that by the distractions of a lawsuit.” 

 

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2020 American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Awards

News & Notices: ASCE Awards

Mario Ricozzi honored with the Wisely American Civil Engineer Award 

Greater New Haven Water Pollution Control AuthorityThe American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) has honored Mario Ricozzi, P.E., F.ASCE with the 2020 William H. Wisely American Civil Engineer Award.

Ricozzi, GNHWPCA’s Manager of Design, is recognized for his dedication and steadfast leadership in overseeing revisions to the Society’s governing documents to enable flexibility, and his willingness to educate the membership on the proposed modifications.

The William H. Wisely American Civil Engineer Award recognizes individuals or groups of individuals who are members of ASCE and who have made continuing efforts to promote appreciation for the history, tradition, developments and technical and professional activities of the Society.

 

GNHWPCA honored with the Achievement in Civil Engineering (ACE) Award 

The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) has honored GNHWPCA with the 2020 ACE Award for the organizations Short Term Control Plan Improvements For Cost Effective Combined Sewer Overflow Reduction.  This project was selected for the ACE Award category with a construction value of < $20 million, > $5 million. 

The GNHWPCA implemented a program of analysis, design & construction that resulted in a 40% reduction in CSOs at a cost of less than $1 per gallon of CSO Reduction per Year.  The detailed analysis by GNHWPCA and their design teams, along with the expertise of the construction teams, resulted in an extremely cost-effective CSO reduction solution.