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Torrington holds public hearing on FY26 waterline replacements and service‑line inventory projects
Summary
City staff described two related drinking‑water projects: an $4.4 million water main replacement program funded by a Drinking Water SRF loan and a $650,000 service‑line material evaluation to meet EPA lead‑and‑copper rule requirements. Council heard questions, public comment and agency review findings; no formal vote was taken.
Torrington city staff opened a public hearing Oct. 7 on two fiscal‑year 2026 water projects: a waterline replacement program covering older neighborhoods and a separate service‑line material evaluation to complete the city’s lead/copper service‑line inventory.
The waterline replacements project calls for replacing about 11,955 linear feet of 4‑inch ductile‑iron mains with 8‑inch C900 PVC, installing new fire hydrants, and restoring streets after pipeline work. Staff estimated the project cost at $4,400,000 and said the city will seek a Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) loan at roughly 1% interest for 20 years, which the city estimates would mean an annual repayment around $242,825. The project is based on the city’s Water Master Plan (AV Engineers, October 2020) and targets older mains (the plan identified about 39,000 linear feet of undersized mains). Construction is planned to be advertised January 2026, begin April 2026 and finish by November 2027 if funding and approvals proceed as expected.
City staff then described the FY26 water service line material evaluation project, undertaken to comply with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Lead and Copper Rule Improvements. That project will identify currently “unknown” service‑line materials so the city can establish the required baseline inventory. Staff said there are 518 unknown locations on the city side and 389 unknowns on the customer side, for 907 total unknown service‑line records; 246 records share the same address, which reduces the number of potholes needed to verify material to about 661 locations. The estimated cost is $650,000; staff will request a Drinking Water SRF loan at 0% interest over 20 years (annual repayment roughly $32,500). Staff said the city expects to advertise in January 2026, begin field work in April 2026 and finish the evaluation by November 2026.
Council members asked technical and policy questions during the hearing. A resident asked for a copy of the project materials; staff said copies are available at City Hall. Council members discussed street restoration (asphalt will be used), whether the city will tear up full road widths, and the role of SRF and the State Land and Investment Board (SLIB) in financing. City staff noted DEQ and other agencies reviewed the projects; staff reported the agencies found no significant environmental impacts and that DEQ posted a categorical exclusion (Cat X) determination on Sept. 24, 2025. Staff also noted that if the SRF loan request is approved when the city appears before SLIB on Dec. 4, 2025, the city will proceed to advertise and select contractors.
Council members and staff emphasized the long‑term nature of the water program and the need to maintain infrastructure to avoid emergency repairs. The clerk/treasurer provided a rough household impact estimate based on current usage: an average residence (5,000–8,000 gallons per month) would see an estimated monthly increase of roughly $0.15–$0.25 under the loan repayment scenario presented. Staff said the city has already inventoried about 72% of service‑line materials and that this project addresses the remaining 28% identified by the EPA timeline.
No formal council vote to approve construction or financing was taken at the hearing; staff said they will submit designs to DEQ and SRF for review and will present SRF loan request materials to SLIB in December for funding consideration.
