By Joseph Gorsuch

Sun Staff Contributor

NORWICH – On May 17, 2016 at 6 p.m. during a Common Council meeting, the 2016 Water Fund Budget was finally balanced totaling $1,490,402.

Back on April 20, the 2016 Water Commission requested the Common Council to pass a supplemental appropriation of $96,257 in the 2016 Water Fund Budget in the aim to increase Capital Reserves for replacing and modernizing the municipal water system.

By a unanimous 5 to 0 decision, the Water Commission approved this notion, raising the budget from $1,394,145 to today’s $1,490,402.

According to Deputy City Chamberlain Dee Dufour, “City comptrollers required a balanced budget transfer into reserves since revenues were higher than expenses.”

Meanwhile, the Superintendent of the Water Department recommended that the increase in budget appropriations should be accounted for water main replacement.

Dufour also states “there is no real immediate need for the money or water main replacement,” though ensuring the Capital Reserves are there as needed is a step toward sustainable infrastructure and future sustainable development for the

City of Norwich. Resulting from the City Common Council Meeting on May 17, City Chamberlin John S. Zielinski is now authorized to use the $96,257 for a water main replacement if necessary.

The City of Norwich supplies water to 2,880 customers among a population of roughly nine-thousand along with the Town of Norwich.The City of Norwich uses surface and ground water from Chenango Lake, Ransford Creek, and Upper and Lower Reservoirs. The water is pumped from four main wells into the municipal water system, which exhibits a consumer demand nearly one million gallons per day on average.

In 2015, clean water produced through the Norwich facility peaked at more than 321 million gallons, and 2016 efforts are geared toward reducing water loss and misappropriation.

In light of the Flint, MI water contamination crisis, there is a question as to if Norwich’s water is free of lead and various other harmful life-threatening contaminants. It is safe to say that the City and Town of Norwich are in the clear for now as the water quality is compliant with both the Environmental Protection

Agencies (EPA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) standards.

Nevertheless, keeping up to date with resolutions such as the 2016 Resolution to Authorize a Water Fund Supplemental Appropriation for Funding Water Main Replacement in Capital Reserves is critical to safe- guarding public awareness and consumer safety