OLR Report 2013-R-0159 summarizes how Connecticut manages water allocation and recent legislation to create a state water use plan and the process Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island underwent to create such plans.
Connecticut manages water quantity through regulating water diversion and other various programs. Primarily, three state agencies — the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), Department of Public Health (DPH), and the Office of Policy and Management (OPM) — administer state water resource laws. In 2001, the legislature created a Water Planning Council (WPC) to coordinate the activities of these agencies to address issues involving water utilities, water resources, and future water supply.
The law requires DEEP, DPH, and OPM to create a statewide long-range plan for managing water resources, but such a plan has not been created. Since 2010, two bills have been introduced to create a statewide water use plan or planning process, but neither passed.
The process by which Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island develop water use plans or manage water resources varies. Although Massachusetts does not have a comprehensive statewide water use plan, the state has plans and programs for specific water management issues. New Hampshire has been developing a comprehensive water resources plan through the contributions of a statutory Water Resources Committee, agency actions, and a gubernatorial executive order. Pennsylvania created a statewide water use plan according to a statutorily-defined process. Rhode Island developed two complementary general water plan documents that address water deficiency and long-term planning. These states' processes generally involved some form of public input or involvement.
For more information, read the full report.
