GOAL:
Protect public health and the environment from water pollutants.

OBJECTIVES:
Attain and maintain Connecticut's surface water quality standards.

STATUS & TRENDS:
Since the enactment of Connecticut's Clean Water Act in 1967, significant improvements have been made to surface water quality. Many degraded waste receiving watercourses have been restored to a swimmable-fishable condition, water supply reservoirs affo rded increased protection and the quality of hundreds of small streams improved. Implementation of several ground water protection and restoration programs have further improved adjacent surface water quality. However, water quality problems remain to be addressed. These problems include improperly treated wastewater discharges, combined sewer overflows, lake and pond eutrophication, unauthorized point and non-point source discharges and marine water quality. Risk assessment, establishment of health e ffects, designation of tolerance limits, and improvements in wastewater treatment or alternative solutions all remain as issues for further study, debate and action. Connecticut has established a Clean Water Fund as the financial tool used to assist municiplities in correcting water quality problems. The major municipal sewer needs are correction of combined sewer overflows, construction of advanced treatment for discharge to water quality limited rivers and estuaries and reduction of nutrient enric hment of Long Island Sound. In 1985, state needs totaled $1.1 billion; today, with inflation and an estimate of Long Island Sound capital project needs, total need costs are estimated at $3.2 billion (1990) dollars.

STRATEGIES:

1. Utilize the Clean Water Fund to the maximum extent possible to resolve surface water quality problems.
2. Develop and implement river basin/watershed water quality management plans which integrate quality/quantity issues.
3. Continue to require use of best available treatment technologies when issuing wastewater discharge permits.
4. Develop and implement a basin storm water management strategy which favors a shared state-municipal role, and focuses on both quantity and quality issues.
5. Consider extending seasonal treatment for phosphorous removal and chlorination through October to meet recreation needs.
6. Complete engineering and environmental assessments for the thirteen municipalities where combined sewer overflow problems exist for the purpose of identifying the specific correction strategies, construction priorities and construction phases.
7. Eliminate minor system overflows in eight municipalities in the near future.
8. Maintain a high level of interstate cooperation concerning the correction of combined sewer overflows into water entering Connecticut.
9. Utilize non-point source management practices through training and education programs, guidelines, regulatory controls and financing mechanism