During rainy weather, stormwater pours into Newington’s 128 miles of sewer pipes, 37% of which are more than 50 years old. The stormwater enters mainly through old, cracked pipes and homeowner drainage connections such as down spouts, basement sump pumps, and yard drains. This adds dramatically to the sewers’ wastewater volume and fills the pipes beyond their capacity. Over-taxed sewers then send extra-large flow volumes to the Hartford treatment plant where they exceed the facility’s treatment capacity. This excess flow causes basement backups, street flooding, and discharges of raw sewage to the South Branch of the Park River and the Connecticut River.

To prevent backups of raw sewage into basements and local waterways, two major programs have already been implemented:

• Making the antiquated sewer system watertight and eliminating homeowner drainage connections. Within Newington, over 20 miles of old sewer pipes have been replaced or lined to prevent infiltration of stormwater into the system; and
• Approximately 700 sewer manholes were rehabilitated or replaced. 

Projects in Phase II of the Clean Water Project include construction of the South Hartford storage tunnel, rehabilitation of additional sewer pipes, and construction of relief sewers. In addition, targeted capacity improvement projects have been beern completed for the Church Street and the Cedar Street/Old Farm Drive/Burdon Lane Area.