Lake Whitney dam, in early stages of restoration.
The president of New Haven’s water utility sent in the following article to mark the organization’s 170th anniversary year:
Grounded in the belief that the people of Greater New Haven needed access to a safe and reliable water supply for our community to grow, the Connecticut General Assembly passed a resolution in 1849 approving the incorporation of the New Haven Water Company, the predecessor to the Regional Water Authority (RWA), beginning the history of New Haven’s public water utility. As we celebrate our 170th Anniversary, the RWA is proud to carry on the tradition of excellence that founded our company and recommit ourselves to another 170 years making life better for people by delivering water for life.
When New Haven was settled in 1638, residents of the city depended on a single water pump located on the city green. As New Haven became a hub for education, culture and commerce in our state, the city grew well beyond the capability of that single pump. In 1849, a group of entrepreneurs sought approval from the General Assembly for the creation of a water utility that could support the city’s expansion. A few years after receiving legislative approval and guided by the leadership of Eli Whitney II, The New Haven Water Company finished construction of a dam on the Mill River, creating the Lake Whitney reservoir. That first reservoir formed the foundation of the water supply to our region, and continues to serve residents of Greater New Haven to this day.
In celebration of our 170th Anniversary, the RWA is giving that original dam a restoration. The preliminary examinations have begun, and will allow us to conduct a renewal project that will preserve the historic appearance of this important piece of infrastructure. The dam was built to be resilient and over the years has received regular maintenance. It is in good condition and functioning well, but we want to ensure it is able to continue serving our region for another century.
Since the dam at Lake Whitney was first constructed, the Greater New Haven region has grown substantially and the RWA has grown with it. We now serve nearly 430,000 people in 15 cities and towns. To support this growth, we have purchased more than 27,000 acres of watershed lands that are protected by our team of environmental specialists. With specialties in water quality, forestry and invasive species management, they serve as caretakers for these lands. As states around the country increasingly struggle with water supply maintenance, the RWA has increased our commitment to protecting the natural spaces from which we source our drinking water. By protecting these lands and the waters they hold, we hope to maintain the pristine environment that makes Greater New Haven such a great place to live and work.
Water is often considered the unseen utility. Most of our infrastructure is buried beneath the ground, and the rarity of service interruptions can make it easy to forget that dozens of men and women who are hard at work every day to maintain a high-quality, dependable and affordable water source for our customers, communities, economy and environment. For us, it is a point of pride that we can provide this vital life-sustaining resource and improve key moments in people’s lives every day.
One hundred seventy years ago, a group of innovators dreamed of providing the people of this region with a safe, reliable and high-quality water supply. When Eli Whitney II constructed the dam at Lake Whitney, he said his purpose in founding this organization was to make life better for people. We have taken that higher purpose on ourselves as a 21st-century environmental services company, and will continue to build upon the foundation laid by our founders, improving service, revitalizing infrastructure like the Whitney Dam, and continuing to fulfill our higher purpose to make life better for people by delivering water for life. We are proud to have such an important purpose.
Larry L. Bingaman is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority (RWA). The RWA is a nonprofit corporation that delivers water for life by providing high-quality water and services to almost 430,000 people in 15 cities and towns throughout Greater New Haven. As a conscious business, the RWA acts as a responsible steward of the environment by protecting the more than 27,000 acres of watershed land it owns and promoting sustainable practices.
