The town is one step closer to resolving its longstanding water pollution issue thanks to a special town meeting on Sept. 2 that ended with approval of $44,400 for a new Water Pollution Control Commission (WPCC) study.

The WPCC has been charged with finding a solution to the town’ s groundwater pollution problem. In the 1990s, the then-Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, now Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), and the town entered into a consent order mandating that the town address pollution from private septic systems for the Rocky Ledge and Long Hill areas.

Both areas have a history of groundwater pollution, with the Rocky Ledge area having a history of well-water contamination.

Sixty-three residents attended the meeting and the motion was passed with a 57-person majority. WPCC Chairman Matt Kennedy said the funds would help finish the tests that will then be sent to the state.

“The report is not done yet and we need this money to finish the last of the tasks and to do a little public relations work,” he said.

Of the $44,400 approved by the Board of Finance, the town itself will only pay $19,800. The other portion will be covered by state funding.

Many residents at the vote were concerned about the much larger sum of money that will be required when action is taken to correct the pollution problem.

Vince Cimino, vice-president of the Clinton Taxpayers Association, was among those concerned about the total price of the project.

“I believe that we need to proceed and finish up this study,” he said. “But at the end of this study, you are going to receive a lot more comments about how is this going to get paid for and how is it going to be affordable for residents.”

Resident Kathy Monnes reminded voters that a solution needs to be reached, regardless of the cost.

“We can’t live in a town that fails to correct a waste water pollution problem,” she said. “We are under a consent order and the ramifications of violating that order are severe. At the end of the day, no one knows the final price, but if we don’t vote to fund the authorization to continue the study, then we may never know.”

Many have seen the study in question as one of the more progressive steps take by the WPCC, according to WPCC clerk Shirley Mickens.

“This document presents a level of detail never before undertaken on this project,” she said. “The review process is ongoing and the plan will be submitted to the state DEEP for their review once it is vetted by the WPCC.”

Under the current plan, many areas of Clinton are proving to be unsuitable for septic.

“The Long Hill neighborhood, portions of the coastal area, Meadow Road, a portion of Stanton Road, and a few blocks of Route 1 in the downtown center,” she said.

For these specific areas, off-site alternatives will be considered.

“Areas that are not suitable for septic are proposed to be served off-site; that is, with a sewer system,” she said. “The sewer system would be considered decentralized as it will only serve the streets in need of off-site treatment.”

While the WPCC continues is report, the department continues to hold public involvement meetings to keep Clinton residents in the loop.

“I think what we have ahead of us as a commission is more effort listening to, and educating, all the different folks around town,” said Kennedy. “The WPCC is going to be working with the Connecticut DEEP in September discussing the different financing mechanisms that have worked in other communities.”

While there are many questions ahead, Kennedy said he was pleased the funding passed so that the process can continue to move forward.

“With a little luck and continued efforts, ultimately we will be able to come up with a plan that is technically sound, and as fair as possible to all of us taxpayers here in town,” he said.

The WPCC will continue to hold regular meetings every second and fourth Tuesday of the month in the Rose Room of Town Hall.