As a part of a State program to protect the quality of groundwater in Connecticut from contamination, towns regulate uses located on land that contributes water to public water supply wells. To better do so, Old Saybrook's Town Code names the Inland Wetlands & Watercourses Commission as the town's Aquifer Protection Agency.
An "aquifer" is a large area of subsurface water in a geologic formation, known as stratified drift, that is able to yield water to wells. Old Saybrook has two aquifers -- the Holbrook Aquifer is in the northwestern part of Town extending over the Westbrook line, and the Saybrook Aquifer is in the area of Bokum Road/Middlesex Turnpike.
Mapping. The Connecticut Water Company (CWC) conducted detailed mapping of the zone of influence for its public water supply wells; these boundaries cannot be altered unless there is additional proof that a property does not contribute groundwater to a public water supply wellfield.
- In 1985, the Zoning Commission established its initial Aquifer Protection (AP) Zone to control land uses around any well, its area of contribution and its area of recharge used by a water company serving over one thousand (1,000) people.
- In 2007, the CWC completed an updated mapping for the Holbrook Aquifer after extensive groundwater modeling and study; preliminary mapping for the Saybrook Aquifer is still underway.
- In 2008, the Zoning Commission revised the AP Zone boundaries on its Aquifer Map.
Regulations. Regulated activities are primarily associated with commercial and industrial uses and do not affect residential uses.
- In 1992, the State Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) established the Aquifer Protection Area (APA) Program (C.G.S. 22a-354 et sec.) to develop regulations to govern the land use that could harm critical water supply aquifers.
- In 2008, the Zoning Commission adopted up-to-date, very comprehensive Aquifer Protection Area (APA) Regulations, which includes a list of regulated uses and activities that must be registered with the Town prior to being conducted within a designated APA.
- In 2011, the Town charged the Inland Wetlands & Watercourses Commission with aquifer protection because the State's model regulation was based on a similar process to that of protecting inland wetlands and watercourses.
Consistency with Town Plan. Aquifer protection is consistent with the Water Resources (Water Supply) section of the Town's Plan of Conservation & Development:
Goals
• Potable water for everyone.
• Maintenance of present and future clean water sources.
• Extension of community water to all areas south of Interstate 95.
Policies
• To extend central water system in appropriate locations.
• To protect drinking water quality of the high yield aquifer on Bokum and other locations where higher yield wells are possible.
• To protect ground water quality in areas where individual wells will continue to be the primary water source.
• To discourage community water where density is low.
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