Pushes for future investment in stormwater infrastructure statewide
NEW HAVEN—Save the Sound responded to an announcement made yesterday by Governor Ned Lamont that Connecticut will invest $507 million in municipal water pollution control projects, supplemented by $73 million in federal funding. The move will pour $580 million over two years into projects on the state’s Clean Water Fund Priority List, including some in areas of the state already overburdened by environmental damage.
“We applaud another round of robust clean water funding to help upgrade Connecticut’s wastewater systems and address the many acres of lakes and estuaries that are impaired,” said Bill Lucey, Long Island Soundkeeper. “We’ve been working closely with the City of Bridgeport, for example, which secured funding for construction design for upgrading the West Side Sewage Treatment Plant, one of the largest in the state. From our Unified Water Study, we know that the waters of Black Rock Harbor are severely degraded. This funding brings us one step closer to clean water for Black Rock Harbor, and to greatly enhancing the water quality for the people of Bridgeport and the marine life of Long Island Sound.”
“We thank Governor Lamont, the Connecticut General Assembly, and our Congressional delegation for recognizing the importance of investing in these projects, which will make our water safer and cleaner,” said Leah Lopez Schmalz, vice president of programs for Save the Sound. “Our goal is to ensure that every community has high-functioning wastewater systems, and the grey and green infrastructure critical to cleaning the stormwater-laden rivers that feed Long Island Sound. We will continue pairing science-driven data with action to guarantee people can safely swim in clean beach water and wildlife can thrive in the Sound’s open waters. Everyone has the right to access clean water, and we look forward to partnering with elected officials in both Connecticut and New York to secure that future.”
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