A watershed decision is upon us and deserves our close attention if we are to preserve safe, clean drinking water for generations to come.
In Connecticut, preserving the supply of high-quality drinking water by protection of adjacent open space has been embodied in law since Public Act 77-606 amended §25-32(b) of the General Statutes and added sections (c) and (d) to specifically require a “written permit” rather than “prior approval” for the disposition or use change in use of Class I and Class II land. Section 25-37(c) defines land owned by a water company as Class I, II or III. Class I and II land serves as a recharge region for a public drinking-water reservoir or well field, either directly or indirectly. For example, Class II land might abut a tributary stream to a distribution reservoir. Class III land is outside a drinking-water watershed and is lightly regulated.
