Working group on sewage disposal names co-chairs, narrows focus to nitrogen limits and process

At a meeting of the working group established by Public Act 25-97, Section 49, co-chairs John Kaskowski and Sonia Brinkworth were announced and members discussed the group's scope, subcommittees and timeline for producing recommendations on sewage disposal regulations, including nitrogen discharge limits. The statute requires the group's report to be submitted to the Department of Public Health and the committees on public health, environment and housing by Feb. 1, 2026.

The statute was read aloud during the meeting: "there has established a working group to assess and provide recommendations regarding the regulatory requirements concerning sewage disposal, including, but not limited to, nitrogen discharge limits and their impact on the development of housing, public health, and the environment," and the facilitator said that the report is due "02/01/2026." Those directions framed the conversation about priorities and process for a group that acknowledged a late start and a tight timeline.

"I bring to this committee the the great Socratic understanding that I know nothing," said Co-chair John Kaskowski, a land use planner who said he has worked on septic development considerations for about 25 years and serves towns across Connecticut. Kaskowski and Co-chair Sonia Brinkworth agreed the group should form a dedicated nitrogen subcommittee to define scope and report back to the full working group.

Participants urged the group to first adopt a written mission statement and then break into subcommittees tied to specific goals. "I wanna know the mission statement," said Dennis Hallahan, an engineer with Infiltrator. Several members endorsed the idea of a short-term steering process: the co-chairs will synthesize meeting comments and propose a process and possible subcommittee membership for the next meeting.

Several substantive priorities emerged during discussion. David Potts said state Department of Health proposals largely mirrored the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection approach and urged the group to examine options ranging "from doing nothing to doing something everywhere." He noted that some states, including Massachusetts, "look at it from a watershed perspective," meaning nitrogen treatments could be required for some houses but not neighboring ones depending on watershed boundaries.

Industry and municipal concerns were raised. Matt Gilchrist, representing EG Home and Connecticut Home Builders, said he will evaluate proposals "through the eyes of affordability and attainability of housing," and urged clearer, statewide rules so builders can plan project costs without facing disparate local requirements. Co-chair Sonia Brinkworth and others emphasized reviewing the regulatory framework and technical standards (transcript reference to "19 13 b 1 0 3") and making standards adaptable as onsite technologies evolve.

Public-health and operations issues came up repeatedly: members asked that sanitarians receive training for higher-flow systems and for advanced treatment (AT) systems, noted that many municipalities cannot accept large volumes of septage, and raised the cost and maintenance burdens for AT systems. Audra Dixon asked whether the group should consider municipal or regional approaches and potential funding to support infrastructure and long-term maintenance.

Meeting organizers agreed to take comments offline: the co-chairs will draft a mission statement, propose an initial work plan and recommend a nitrogen subcommittee's scope. The group scheduled its next meeting for two weeks from this session at 2:00 p.m., and the co-chairs said they will communicate interim materials; meeting staff (Trent and Beverly) were listed as contacts to facilitate work.

The meeting concluded with a procedural motion to adjourn. The working group did not adopt regulatory changes at this session; members focused on organizing work, identifying priorities and setting a schedule to meet the Feb. 1, 2026 reporting deadline.