EPA funds alternative water supply for area surrounding Connecticut's Durham Meadows Superfund Site

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on Monday that it will provide $9 million in funding to bring clean water to the homes and businesses near Durham, Connecticut's Durham Meadows Superfund site.

Many of those homes and businesses are using treatment systems or bottled water due to groundwater contamination.

“This EPA funding will initiate the work to install the alternative water supply for the residents and businesses of Durham," EPA New England Regional Administrator Curt Spalding said. "We are excited that this means the important work to address groundwater contamination and ensure clean drinking water will begin next year.”

Spalding thanked the Town of Durham, the City of Middletown, the Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP), and the Connecticut Department of Public Health for their assistance.

The area’s pollution stems from Durham Manufacturing Company and Merriam Manufacturing Company activities that left the groundwater and soil contaminated with TCE and chlorinated solvents. The new alternative water supply will serve more than 100 buildings and Regional School District 13.

“Moving this project forward brings us closer to a positive ending to a long and troubling saga for residents and businesses in this area,”  DEEP Commissioner Robert Klee said. “With federal and state funding now in place we are moving forward to provide safe drinking water to families and to clean chemical contamination that has remained in the ground for far too long.”