The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) is celebrating the completion of nearly 6 miles of waterline that provides a safe, sustainable drinking water supply to properties impacted by the contamination at the Durham Meadows Superfund Site in Connecticut.
The project is an example of local, state and federal partners working toward the common goal of addressing the contamination at a Superfund site to protect human health and the environment, while increasing the potential for economic development.
"Today exemplifies the power and potential of environmental partnership," said EPA New England Regional Administrator David Cash. "After decades of hard work from local, state, and federal partners, as well as additional funding provided through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we ensured that we all delivered on our promise to Durham. The Town of Durham now has a sustainable, expandable, and, more importantly, safe source of water."
The nearly 6-mile waterline, that runs from the City of Middletown to the Town of Durham, and a 790,000-gallon water storage tank were installed in response to widespread contamination from industrial activities in Durham Center. The system includes new connections for 119 properties, including Coginchaug High School and Strong Middle School, and provides clean water for the 84 existing customers of the Durham Center Water Service, including the historic Durham Agricultural Fairground.
Waterline construction activities began in September 2019 and Durham was successfully delivered clean, safe drinking water from the City of Middletown on July 18, 2022. A portion of the groundwater and soil cleanup is still ongoing, as well as with some remaining construction work, but EPA expects these aspects of the cleanup to be fully complete in 2023.
The new system has the capacity to support expansion, which will allow the Town of Durham to address other areas of contamination, including the areas that will be targeted by the additional $3,412,455 in Congressional Earmark funding that will be provided to the Town of Durham and managed through EPA's water program. This funding will provide Durham greater opportunity for economic development now that a reliable source of water is available.
