Commission to investigate report that landscaper pumped river water into truck tank

A commission member told the Mansfield Conservation Commission that they observed a truck belonging to a landscaping company parked on Crane Hill Road pumping water from the Sawmill/Fenton River into a truck-mounted holding tank. Members discussed whether that activity violated state water-withdrawal rules or property-rights provisions.

Staff reported that Connecticut’s Water Withdrawal Act requires permitting for withdrawals that exceed 50,000 gallons per day and that small, mobile withdrawals are unlikely to meet that threshold. Members noted that even if the withdrawal is not a criminal violation under state law, it could implicate private property rights if the company was withdrawing water from riparian property without permission.

The commission decided to research the issue further: staff will check state regulations and enforcement practice, consult contacts in Connecticut resource agencies, and consider whether there are local enforcement or reporting steps the town should take if repeat or large-volume withdrawals occur. Members discussed possibly contacting the company and noted the observed vehicle identification (Andover Landscaping) and location (Crane Hill Road, adjacent to river and municipal right-of-way).

Next steps: staff and members will follow up with agency contacts and report back with legal context and recommended next steps to address recurring or potentially harmful withdrawals from local waterways.