Frequently Asked Questions

Drought conditions have contributed to instability of well water supply.

· High water use combined with low precipitation and snowmelt have reduced water resources in private wells.

· In Winter 2025, all of Connecticut was under a Stage 2 drought advisory, signaling an emerging drought that could affect water supply and natural resources.

· The location, geological makeup, and physical condition of a well also impact water levels.

A town water supply can support more development.

· Well capacity, space limitations, and land requirements can hinder development.

· The project aims to allow higher-density residential and commercial/mixed-use development, especially in the Village Center.

· Expanding development will create more housing options and business opportunities.

· Increased land use will benefit current and future residents and visitors

· More development will boost the town’s tax base, funding service expansions or property tax relief.

No. The Town’s study is focused only on two areas of high-density development – the Village Center area and the Bennett Road/Bennett Circle area of the Beach Pond neighborhood. The majority of the Town is a low-density area that is not under the same development pressure as these two areas.

· Village Center Residents & Businesses: The downtown area has limited development opportunities because of constraints on water and septic resources. Some buildings are distressed, and others have been abandoned and are unable to be rehabilitated.

· Beach Pond Homeowners: Opportunities for home renovation and expansion are limited in this neighborhood due to already crowded subsurface infrastructure. In addition, the geographical, geological and physical conditions of a well may also contribute to lower water levels, which means less water for the user.

Having a public water supply may:

· increase property values

· allow expansion and redevelopment

· reduce electricity use

· eliminate the need for private wells, which will enhance the reliability of water availability

If your property is not in one of the targeted areas, your property and your private well will not be affected.

At this point, the Town is simply doing a feasibility study to see what would be involved in setting up these two public water systems.

This study includes exploration of potential public well locations in each targeted area, in hopes of finding a suitable location with sufficient water quantities to supply their respective neighborhoods.

During the summer and fall of 2025, the Town will be doing some exploratory well-drilling in several locations. It appears that all well locations in Voluntown Village Center will be located on existing Town-owned property. Suitable sites for exploration are still being reviewed near Beach Pond. We hope for final reports by the end of the year.

At this time, no additional construction or establishment of public water systems is being actively considered. The results of the study and exploration will help identify costs and processes of ultimately constructing such a system.

There is no out-of-pocket cost to Voluntown for this planning study. This project is being paid through a $250,000 grant from the State of Connecticut through the “Community Investment Fund” program. That program also has funds available for construction projects, and if the Town decides to proceed, it will mostly likely seek additional grant funds for that purpose.

The Town recognizes that such a significant public infrastructure construction project will cost several million dollars and we will consider the financial impact to its taxpayers. Securing grant funds will be the first priority. A combination of grant funds and USDA-supported community grants and loans will be another potential consideration. It is highly unlikely that the Town would choose to construct these systems using only municipal funds.

Once installed (if the Town proceeds), the public water systems would likely be managed by Connecticut Water, the water utility assigned to Voluntown. Maintenance costs would be borne by system customers, just like any other utility.

More information about the project is available on our website: www.voluntown.gov/220/Community-Water-Study-Project