Aquifer Protection Agency

Connecticut’s Aquifer Protection Area Program protects major public water supply wells in sand and gravel aquifers to ensure a plentiful supply of public drinking water for present and future generations.  Aquifer Protection Areas (sometimes referred to as “wellhead protection areas”) have been designated around the state’s 127 active well fields in 80 towns in sand and gravel aquifers that serve more than 1000 people.  

Land use regulations have been established in those areas to minimize the potential for contamination of the well field. The regulations restrict development of certain new land use activities that use, store, handle, or dispose of hazardous materials and require existing regulated land uses to register and follow best management practices.

The Aquifer Protection Area Program responsibilities are shared between the State DEEP, the municipalities, and the water companies.

Municipalities such as Thomaston play the most critical role.  They are responsible for appointing an aquifer protection agency, inventorying land uses within the aquifer protection area, designating the aquifer protection area boundary, and adopting and implementing local land use regulations. The agency regulates land use activities within the aquifer protection area by: