Mattabassett Sewage Deal Almost Reached

The City of Middletown’s decade-long pipe dream of joining the Mattabassett Sewer District is on the verge of becoming reality as officials from the city and the local sewer district work to finalize an agreement for Middletown’s inclusion.

On March 21, the Mattabassett Sewer District’s Board of Directors agreed to send the terms for a $13 million agreement to the City of Middletown for consideration. As part of the terms, the city would pay the $13 million in two $6.5 million installments in order to join the district. The first installment would be paid when the district’s charter is officially changed to include the city. The second would be made when the district officially begins service to the city.

The agreement is subject to Middletown’s acceptance and the passage of a bill in the General Assembly amending the special act which created the district back in 1961.

The bill, introduced by State Sen. Paul Doyle (D, 9th) and State Rep. Joseph Serra (D, 33rd), was passed with a favorable recommendation by the Assembly’s Planning and Development Committee on March 25.

The new bill would not only include Middletown in the district but would also change the number of seats each member town has on the district’s board. While presently New Britain has seven members, Berlin three members and Cromwell two members, membership for all towns — including Middletown — will consist of three representatives on the board in the new bill.

On March 2, the Planning and Development Committee held a public hearing where the bill was discussed.

“This has been a marathon race for me personally over 16 years,” explained Director of the city’s Water and Sewer Department Guy Russo. “We are on the last mile and I’d ask for your help and support.”

According to Russo, Middletown’s inclusion in the district would benefit the state in a number of ways.

“The project does reduce the cost to the state by consolidating clean water funds into one facility as opposed to two facilities, which would be at a higher cost,” he told the committee. “It also reduces the operating cost to all of the municipalities involved improving the competiveness of the towns from a utility perspective.”

In written testimony, State Rep. Matthew Lesser of Middletown’s 100th District argued in support of the bill.

“Nearly a half-century ago, city leaders in Middletown made a tragic mistake when they decided to go it alone on water pollution control,” he wrote in his testimony. “Correcting this mistake would allow Middletown to demolish its own water pollution control facility, fulfilling a dream of city leaders to open a stretch of the Connecticut River.”

Since as far back as 1995, the City of Middletown has been in negotiations with the district about regionalizing the city’s and the district’s wastewater plants. Those discussion began to bear real fruit in 2003. Once again – however – they stalled.

In February of 2010, a mediator was brought in to facilitate the discussions. By the end of the year, the district and the city had reached an essential agreement as to Middletown’s inclusion in the district.

Those in support of the agreement argue that the city’s inclusion in the district will benefit both Middletown and present members.

“This bill would provide savings to sewerage taxpayers in Berlin, Cromwell and New Britain who are facing considerable expense in upgrading their facility to improve water quality,” Lesser argues in his written testimony. “As a full member of the district, Middletown would assume a portion of the costs.”

As Lesser pointed out, the district is planning to embark on a $93 million upgrade to its sewage plant which is located just a short distance from the Middletown border on Main Street in Cromwell.

The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection is requiring the improvements as part of its efforts to lessen the amount of nitrogen being emitted into the Connecticut River and the Long Island Sound.

As part of the upgrades, two new nitrogen aeration tanks, a nitrogen reactor, two clarifier tanks, a new pumping station, an improved primary tank and a new incinerator will be installed.

Presently, the plant processes approximately 200,000 to 400,000 gallons of septage a month — or 10 to 15 tons of sludge a day.

The district was first organized in 1961 by Cromwell, New Britain and Berlin. The plant itself opened in 1968.

After listening to testimony March 2 regarding Middletown’s inclusion in the district, Planning and Development Chairman Steve Cassano was enthusiastic about the agreement.

“It’s a terrific effort,” he explained Russo and those gathered at the hearing. “It’s a home run for both of you and for the state of Connecticut.”

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