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The EPA is conducting an inspection of the Metropolitan District’s facilities in response to flooding and sewage issues in Hartford, including environmental justice communities.
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The inspection will assess the district’s compliance with federal regulations and evaluate its ability to handle severe weather events.
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The Metropolitan District has had issues with flooding and sewage overflows in the past, including during Tropical Storm Henri in 2021.
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The inspection will include a review of the district’s emergency response plans and infrastructure, such as its wastewater treatment plants and sewer systems.
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The EPA’s inspection is part of a broader effort to address water infrastructure challenges across the country, as many aging systems struggle to handle the impacts of climate change and increased development.
By Connecticut Public | January 27, 2023
The regional administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency – New England Region (EPA), David Cash, said the agency knows that north Hartford residents have been calling for solutions to their persistent flooding and sewage issues. Cash said EPA representatives did not attend a Jan. 17 community meeting they were invited to because, “perhaps there was a miscommunication, but that is not the kind of stuff they are expected to do.”
Human and environmental rights activist, Bridgitte Prince, stated that the conversation went well with the civil rights advocates and the residents who were able to express what they consider a “civil rights violation.” Prince argues the issue with MDC and the city of Hartford is political…
“For some reason, people are scared and intimidated to challenge the MDC because of their political connections,” Prince said. “You got politicians here who know about the discrimination. Who know that this is environmental racism that affects primarily the Black community.”
Cash said, “It’s a priority for us to address these kinds of environmental justice concerns that we see in communities all over the country where overburdened communities have experienced more than their share of pollution, whether it be water pollution or air pollution.”
Read more from Connecticut Public.
