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A Different Kind of Utility

Last month, I had the opportunity to tour the William N. MacKenzie drinking water treatment facility in Clinton, which is one of the water supply sources for Connecticut Water customers in Guilford. The facility pumps water from the Kelseytown Reservoir in Clinton and puts it through a series of treatment steps and water quality tests before shipping it out to the community.

The infrastructure is impressive. It costs millions of dollars to build the infrastructure that makes water fit for consumption and then to reliably pipe it to customers with good water pressure levels and at a volume to hydrants that can fight fires.

Connecticut Water has invested about $20 million over the past decade to maintain, improve, and expand water service in Guilford. Projects such as a new water storage tank in Madison that increased water storage capacity and made it possible to dismantle the outdated Clapboard Hill water tank on Tanner Marsh Road in Guilford off I-95. There was also the extensive replacement of water mains around Guilford Center that enhanced service reliability, water quality water, and availability.

An additional benefit of these Infrastructure investments is the tax benefit to the community: Connecticut Water paid $290,000 in taxes to the community.

Back in 2020, when Storm Isaias knocked out electric service for an extended period, many private well owners had no water because they had no power. Connecticut Water responded by providing a tanker truck of portable water that was stationed at the North Guilford Fire House, so private well owners would have water themselves, their families, and their pets.

Connecticut Water is a different kind of utility, one that we’re lucky to have taking care of our residents’ needs.

Matthew T. Hoey III

Guilford

Matthew Hoey is the first selectman of Guilford