PURA staff and OCC counsel questioned Hazardville Water Company about multiple water‑quality topics during cross‑examination.

On PFAS, staff noted detections in two system sources (Sitco and Bakken wells). Company witnesses said they have engaged an engineer to evaluate treatment technologies and long‑term operating costs, have applied this year for DPH/state drinking‑water revolving fund support, and expect to refine the design and schedule as funding and equipment availability are clarified. The company acknowledged the 2029 timeframe for PFAS compliance and said it may seek extensions if engineering or supply constraints require it.

Regarding lead service‑lines, the company said it has identified most customer‑side materials through meter change‑outs and records review, and that about 130 service lines on the company side remain of unknown material. The company will continue identification work, notify customers where a customer‑side lead line exists, and offer contractor support options if customers elect to replace service lines on their property.

Customers’ complaints about hardness, taste and chlorine variation were raised on the record. Company testimony said existing water meets safe‑drinking‑water standards; addressing hardness system‑wide would require treatment at multiple well stations, would increase sodium levels (risking a public‑notification threshold), and carry substantial ongoing costs (company estimated a large salt requirement and significant annual operating expense). Company said it has not yet pursued large‑scale softening alternatives and would investigate alternatives if PURA authorized further study or funding.

The company agreed to request a statement from DPH regarding current compliance status and to continue engineering work on PFAS treatment options.