The Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection on Thursday granted final approval of UConn’s plan to divert 1.2 million gallons of water from Tolland to support the university’s growth in Mansfield.
DEEP Hearing Officer Janice Deshais gave the final approval to UConn and its partner utility Connecticut Water to transport the water along a five-mile pipeline from CT Water’s reservoir at Lake Shenipsit in Tolland. The tentative approval for the project was granted in December.
In making its ruling, DEEP determined the water diversion was necessary, will not significantly impact long-range water resources management, or hurt the state’s water resources.
The permit will last 25 years. CT Water cannot provide more than 1.185 million gallons of water to UConn in one day and must average below 1.18 million gallons per day. UConn, in the application filed in April 2014, said it expects to use considerably less at the beginning.
Jason Coite, environmental compliance manager at UConn’s Office of Environmental Policy, said in a statement that DEEP’s ruling will help ensure a long-term water supply for the campus and surrounding area.
“[UConn] is committed to being good stewards of this natural resource through our ongoing water conservation and reuse initiatives, along with robust education and awareness programs,” Coite said.