Annual Report 2007-2008(color).pub - Town of South Windsor

Department of Public Works
Protection. In treating the wastewater,
1,488,800 pounds of wastewater solids were
removed and transported to the Hartford
Metropolitan District Facility (MDC) for final
processing in accordance with the Town’s
participation in a cooperative regional sludge
management program. Wastewater service is
provided to more than 7,955 residential homes
and to more than 340 industrial and commercial
businesses in South Windsor, East Windsor,
Vernon, and Manchester. Service is provided to
out of town properties in accordance with the
provisions of intertown sewer agreements;
through such agreements communities are
benefited by limiting the number of expensive
pump stations which would otherwise have to be
constructed and operated.
The Town has completed and submitted to the
State Department of Environmental Protection
(DEP) design work for construction of
improvements of the Water Pollution Control
Facility on Vibert Road. These improvements
are intended to increase the efficiency,
effectiveness and safety of the Facility in the
treatment of wastewater. The improvements will
meet future Town growth needs and, therefore,
will serve to support and achieve the Town’s
Strategic Plan priorities for economic
development, environmental protection,
infrastructure maintenance, public safety and
quality of life. These improvements should be
eligible for State grants (20% to 30%) and low
interest loans (20 years @ 2%), pending State
funding availability.
The Division has successfully implemented a
Town-wide program to reduce the fats, oils, and
grease (FOG) discharged by Town restaurants
to the sanitary sewer system. The presence of
FOG in the system has increased the risk of
sewer blockages and sewer overflows, and has
also interfered with the Water Pollution Control
Facility treatment process. The use of cameras
by staff members has provided information as to
those areas within Town where FOG
accumulations may cause a problem.
During the past year, the Pollution Control
Division installed a new chemical feed controller
system at the Veterans’ Memorial Park
swimming pool to improve system cost efficiency
and reliability.
The staff, in cooperation with Main Street
residents, conducted Treatment Plant noise
level testing in order to assess opportunities for
reducing future noise from Plant equipment
operation.
The Town received delivery of a new sewer line
cleaning truck for improved line cleaning
efficiency and operational safety. The Division
cleaned about thirty two (32) miles of sewer line
in 2007.
During Public Works Week in May of this year,
Public Works Divisions demonstrated the
equipment and services provided to the
community in a program held for the children at
Philip R. Smith School.
REFUSE/RECYCLING
COLLECTION
AND DISPOSAL – The Town is a member
of the Mid-Connecticut Project which is a
regional cooperative organization of Hartford
area communities established for the purposes
of refuse disposal and recycling. Refuse from
member communities is processed at a Hartford
energy recovery facility operated by the
Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority
(CRRA) where it is converted to electricity for
use in the Hartford area.
The Town adopted a recycling ordinance in
September 1990 and implemented a residential
curbside recycling program the following month.
The program has subsequently been expanded
to include recycling of the following items:
newspaper, corrugated cardboard, glass and
metal food containers, plastics, storage and
rechargeable batteries, scrap metal, magazines,
and junk mail, clothes, aseptic packaging,
leaves, and Christmas trees. The Town also
collects and recycles antifreeze, and used oil
filters at the Public Works Garage on Burgess
Road.
Town of South Windsor: Annual Report 2007/2008 | 17