East Hampton WPCA Sets Public Hearing on Clark Hill Sewer Extension

Water Pollution Control · Meeting of March 16, 2026

East Hampton's Water Pollution Control Authority voted unanimously to schedule a public hearing on a Clark Hill sewer extension and debated a potential $3 million bond for pump station upgrades at its March 16 meeting. Chair Jack Solomon led a meeting that covered a proposed $244,749 increase to the authority's Joint Facilities budget share — roughly 10 percent — pushing the per-EDU annual cost from $605 to $640. Staff also reported that the Hydromatic grinder pump used in 74 system locations has been discontinued, with only 20 units remaining in stock, prompting plans to order seven additional pumps from reserve funds.

A resident, Mike Rezal of 76 Abbey Road, used public comment to urge the board to improve communication with affected residents, saying a recent CGS 824 sewer review "struck me as being very similar" to a 2025 expansion proposal the board had previously withdrawn. The authority also discussed a long-term plan to consolidate 19 pump stations into 11, beginning with a new station near Ferris Swamp funded in part through a developer's connection fees.

In the full story:

• The complete report — 1,069 words

Source: the Water Pollution Control meeting of March 16, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

The Full Article

EAST HAMPTON — March 16, 2026 — The Water Pollution Control Authority voted to set a public hearing on a sewer extension to Clark Hill and discussed a potential $3 million bond for pump station upgrades, as members spent much of the meeting debating how aggressively the town should expand its sewer service area ahead of a March 19 public visioning session on the Plan of Conservation and Development.

The authority also received notice that the Hydromatic grinder pump used across 74 locations in the system has been discontinued, with only 20 units remaining in stock, and voted to approve the January 6 meeting minutes as corrected.

The Full Story

Authority Chair Jack Solomon opened the meeting by approving the January 6 minutes, with one correction to language under the centralized water system item: a reference to "data provided by Connecticut Water" was revised to read "data provided in Connecticut Water's consultant's report on the well-development." The motion passed unanimously.

During public comment, Mike Rezal of 76 Abbey Road addressed the board, citing what he described as recurring communication failures in how sewer expansion decisions are presented to residents. Rezal pointed specifically to the recent CGS 824 review presented at the Planning and Zoning Commission, saying its tone echoed a 2025 proposed sewer expansion that the authority ultimately pulled back.

"My concern is that, you know, I just want us to learn from that experience, right?" [00:03:16] — Mike Rezal, resident, 76 Abbey Road

Rezal urged the board to improve resident outreach beyond the legal minimum, document engineering data publicly, and make cost impacts quantitative and transparent before decisions are made. Solomon acknowledged the board is bound by a legally prescribed process but said going above and beyond that minimum is always the goal.

The authority discussed a long-term plan to consolidate the town's 19 pump stations down to 11, including combining the two Laurel Ridge stations and one Hampton Woods station into a new facility near the bottom of Ferris Swamp, adjacent to Cattlebrook Road. The authority has sent easement inquiry letters to three property owners in the area, one of whom — reached through a Virginia Beach address — has expressed willingness to talk. Staff said a contractor, identified only as Otto, is prepared to trade connection fees for construction work on the new station, though members cautioned that the connection fees from roughly 50 units in the first phase would not fully cover the cost of the pump station. Staff proposed bonding approximately $3 million to cover the Ferris Swamp station, Old Middletown Road, Old Marlboro Road, and Hawthorne upgrades, at an estimated annual debt service of $180,000. No vote was taken on bonding.

The grinder pump discontinuation drew significant discussion. Staff reported that the Hydromatic model used in 74 locations has been discontinued, with 20 units remaining at the supplier. The authority has 23 fabricated rings and 16 pumps on hand. Staff said they intend to order seven additional pumps using funds from the building equipment maintenance line rather than the already-exhausted grinder pump line item, pending a site visit with a vendor representative to assess interchangeability between the old and new Hydromatic models.

"The grinder pump that we utilize, that we have 74 of, has been discontinued." [00:25:53] — staff

The Hampton Woods centralized water system update noted that the developer is proceeding with the first phase of approximately 55 units and has requested 38,000 gallons per day from Connecticut Water for the Edgewater Circle full buildout, while Hampton Woods Phase 1 is estimated at 12,000 gallons per day. Members debated whether the system should be accepted before the water interconnection is complete, with staff suggesting the town may want to withhold acceptance until the developer is purchasing Connecticut Water supply, making the system financially self-sustaining.

The board spent considerable time debating sewer service area boundaries ahead of the March 19 POCD infrastructure visioning session at town hall. Several members, including one identified as Mark, argued that sewer infrastructure decisions should follow the town's development plan rather than drive it.

"It's my opinion that the town decides where it wants development and we serve that development. It's not the other way around." [01:08:35] — board member

The Joint Facilities budget update showed East Hampton's proposed share increasing by $244,749, approximately 10 percent, raising the per-EDU cost from $605 to $640. Staff also noted that cost allocations between East Hampton and Joint Facilities have been corrected after years of improper charges being pushed to East Hampton. Staff said roughly 75 percent of the utility director's time is spent on Joint Facilities work, compared to the current 50-50 salary split with the town, and suggested the authority consider asking Joint Facilities to increase its share.

A motion was also passed to set a public hearing on the Clark Hill sewer extension at the authority's next meeting. The extension would serve a property owner whose septic system has failed; staff said planning and zoning overstepped its role when it raised notification objections at a February meeting and noted the authority is not legally required to notify neighboring property owners before a public hearing, though members agreed they should do so voluntarily. Staff said the goal is to have the line installed by spring or summer.

Why It Matters

Residents in the Clark Hill area will face a decision point once a sewer extension public hearing is scheduled: if the line is built and their septic systems fail in the future, they would be required to connect. The authority is weighing a $3 million bond for pump station work that could be folded into a broader town bonding action in fiscal year 2027, which would affect sewer rates. The per-EDU annual cost is already projected to rise by $35 next fiscal year due to Joint Facilities budget increases. The March 19 visioning session — held at town hall at 6:30 p.m. — will shape where the town targets future sewer expansion, with implications for housing density, property assessments, and long-term rate sustainability.

Key Motions & Votes

- Vote: Approve January 6, 2026 meeting minutes as corrected Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Set a public hearing on the Clark Hill sewer extension for the authority's next meeting Tally: Approved unanimously

Source

Town of East Hampton Connecticut: Water Pollution Control Authority meeting, March 16, 2026