Please join your friends and neighbors in taking action today to oppose a bill that weakens drinking water protections. HB5543 could let water companies make big changes in what happens on their lands without oversight from the Commissioner of Public Health.  

Take Action

The Public Health Committee will hold a public hearing on Monday, March 17 at 10:30 A.M. in Room 1D of the Legislative Office Building. You can submit written testimony and/or attend the hearing.

Reservoir on the Kelda lands. Tens of thousands of acres of drinking water lands protected by citizen action and legislative efforts.

The Committee is accepting emailed testimony at phc.testimony@cga.ct.gov. Please also send your testimony to CFE: lmcmillan@ctenvironment.org. 

You can use this sample testimony as a guide.

If you would like to testify at the hearing, please email lmcmillan@ctenvironment.org and we will get the information you need! 

What's in the bill?

Currently, whenever a water company wants to change the use of its land, they must apply for a permit from the Department of Public Health. HB5543 changes the definition of a "change in use" in a way that may allow water companies to make potentially harmful changes without supervision from the Commissioner of Public Health.

Another concern is Section 2 of the bill, which would allow private professionals, rather than the Commissioner of Public Health, to make decisions about water company proposals. Relying on professionals being paid by the water companies to do the job of the department would reduce independent oversight and endanger public health.

CFE has a long history of working to protect water company lands from development for other uses, and we won't quit now. We need your help to protect clean drinking water for Connecticut children and families.