Retrofitting CSO Infrastructure in New Haven, Connecticut

Smith, Lawrence; Smedberg, Raymond; von Zweck, Peter; ,

Retrofitting CSO Infrastructure in New Haven, Connecticut

by Lawrence Smith,
Raymond Smedberg,
Peter von Zweck,

Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: WRPMD'99: Preparing for the 21st Century

Abstract:

(No paper) The City of New Haven Water Pollution Control Authority operates a wastewater collection and treatment system which serves over 130,000 residents in the cities of New Haven, Woodbridge, Hamden, and East Haven. Within the City of New Haven, the system contains over 260 miles of sanitary or combined sewers some of which were constructed during the 1870s. To address high flows associated with wet weather events, the system contains 25 regulating structures. These structures permit overflows from the combined sewers to local receiving waters. To address the water quality impacts from these overflows, a facilities plan prepared for the City during the 1970s recommended construction of separate sanitary and storm sewers on a city-wide basis. In 1997, the City started a project to re-evaluate the plan. The City's Long-Term Control Plan project is addressing changes which have occurred in regulatory requirements for CSOs and stormwater discharges, new technologies for control or treatment of wet weather flows, and trade-offs in water quality impacts associated with the sewer separation program. For instance, it is anticipated that completion of the sewer separation program will reduce the bacterial contamination associated with overflow events. However, other pollutants currently captured for treatment could be piped directly to the receiving waters. The potential costs and benefits of using other CSO control technologies and/or the incorporation of stormwater treatment systems are being evaluated. The project has involved a broad group of stakeholders and an evolving framework of regulatory requirements.

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