The 2011 revisions to CT's Water Quality Standards (WQS) have been completed.  The U.S. EPA approved the WQS and they became effective on February 25, 2011.  These updated standards will now be used for all applicable programmatic activities.  Many permits and regulatory actions are founded on achieving goals and criteria in the WQS.  As such, changes to the standards may affect regulatory requirements for municipalities with issuance of new authorizations.  The revised standards and a full record of the process are available on the CT WQS 2011 Revisions web page.

CT DEP has proposed a strategy to address the need for a reduction in phosphorus loadings to non-tidal surface waters from municipal wastewater treatment plant discharges.  The strategy has been the topic of numerous discussions among CT DEP, municipalities, and the U.S. EPA.  A revised strategy has been developed that is expected to address the concerns raised in the last 18 months by those parties.  Some municipalities will have to upgrade treatment plants, which may have cost implications for towns.  Nutrient enrichment has also been identified as one of the most pressing water quality issues facing the nation as a whole.  As a result, U.S. EPA has increased pressure on all states to take aggressive action to limit the quantity of phosphorus being discharged to surface waters.  All New England states have been mandated to establish limitations on phosphorus in all wastewater discharge permits where the potential exists for the discharge to contribute to eutrophication and impair designated uses in downstream waters.

CT DEP teamed up with the University of Connecticut's Plant Science and Landscape Architecture Department and CT NOFA (Northeast Organic Farming Association) to develop fact sheets on maintaining turfgrass for private and public school officials, day care managers, and municipal land care employees. Public Act 09-56 banned lawn care pesticide application as of July 1, 2010, on the grounds of day care centers, elementary and middle schools. The fact sheets answer questions on the pesticide ban and provide guidance on how to maintain quality turfgrass without the use of pesticides.

CT DEP and the Connecticut Greenways Council are soliciting nominations

for official state greenway designations. Greenways are an integral part of any community, offering recreational opportunities, providing alternate transportation options, helping to preserve the environment, and supporting economic development.  Designated greenways, both for recreation and resource protection, will be listed in a subsequent revision of the State Plan of Conservation and Development and may receive increased consideration for a variety of grants.  There are currently 59 designated greenways in Connecticut. Those selected for designation will be announced by the Greenways Council in conjunction with their National Trails Day event in June.  The deadline for submission of the nomination form is May 1, 2011.

CT DEP is requesting competitive grant proposals to devise and implement a plan for the replacement or acquisition of natural resources equivalent to those which were damaged at the Old Southington Landfill Superfund Site.  Due to pollution from the landfill, two underlying aquifers (with an annual recharge capacity of 224 million gallons and the combined capacity to produce between 50 and 2,000 gallons per minute) are no longer available to be used as a source of drinking water.  Non-profit, local, municipal, federal and tribal government entities are eligible to apply.  Projects must be entirely located within the Quinnipiac River Regional Basin in Connecticut.  The deadline for proposals is July 12, 2011.  For more information visit www.ct.gov/dep/lis or contact Kate Hughes Brown at 860-424-3652.

CT DEP is now accepting proposals from Connecticut public or private organizations (municipalities, nonprofit environmental organizations, regional water authorities/planning agencies, and watershed associations) for projects that prevent, control and/or abate nonpoint source pollution.  Under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act, the U.S. EPA awards a grant annually to CT DEP to fund projects that support the implementation of the Connecticut's Nonpoint Source Management Program.  A competitive bid process is used to ensure that the most appropriate projects are selected for the limited funding.  CT DEP will place a priority on projects in watersheds with identified impairments where Watershed Based Plans have been developed or are near completion.  Municipalities identified in these plans are encouraged to consider submitting a project application.