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A committee of the Stamford Board of Representatives has voted to publish an ordinance requiring the city to test private wells. The vote of the boards North Stamford Water Supply Special Committee was 3-1, with Rep. Harry Day (R-13) dissenting.
I just think philosophically it is not the right thing to do, said Day. He argued that the city is not responsible for contaminated well waterthe original reason for the proposed ordinanceand that the city should not have to pay for testing.
There are about 5,000 private wells in Stamford, and the city currently has the resources to test only about 900 a year, said Robert Murray, director of the city Health Department Laboratory. The cost to the city would be about $92,500.
A public hearing is required before the ordinance can be passed. A date has not been set for the hearing.
Committee Chairman Mitchell Kaufman (D-11) said he understood Days position but decided to support the ordinance to protect the health of well owners and their families. While people normally do whats best for themselves and their families, that has not been the case here, he said.
Residents arent moving forward to best protect themselves, Kaufman said.
The North Stamford Association supported Day. A letter it sent to members and every city representative stressed the importance of having well water checked and compared it to routine home maintenance.
It is part of owning your home, association head Tom Lombardo said.
The ordinance says that at the request of the resident the Health Department will conduct tests a minimum of every other year. The cost for each test is $100, but that could be changed by the Board of Representatives, the ordinance says.
What do you think of the proposed ordinance? Should all residents have to pay for private well-water testing? Share your thoughts below or email them to reporter Anthony Buzzeo at tbuzzeo@mainstreetconnect.us.
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