WPCA approves seven-unit Sherman Court connection after capacity review

FAIRFIELD — The Water Pollution Control Authority voted unanimously Jan. 21 to allow a sewer connection for a proposed seven-unit townhouse development on Sherman Court and Sherman Street, granting a two-year approval with conditions.

Jason Montagno, a professional engineer with Soley Engineering representing the applicant, described two buildings with a total of seven three-bedroom units and explained the sewer layout: each unit will have a 6-inch lateral connecting to an on-site sanitary manhole that discharges to existing manholes in Sherman Court and Sherman Street. He said the team conducted downstream flow metering at two manholes and used Connecticut public health code assumptions — 150 gallons per day per bedroom — in its capacity calculations.

Wright Pierce reviewed the submitted flow calculations and “agreed with our flow calculations as well as our assessment of the capacity of the system,” Montagno said. The board then moved to approve the connection, with conditions recorded in the motion: approval valid for two years, applicant must pay I&I (inflow & infiltration) fees in effect when permits are issued (fixed I&I may be waived if permits issued within the initial two-year approval), and the WPCA may require updated capacity analysis at its discretion.

Motion and vote: The motion to allow the proposed development to connect to the Fairfield sewer system (peak flow recorded in the motion as 12,600 gallons) was read into the record, moved and seconded, and passed unanimously.

Next steps: The approval allows the applicant to pursue town building permits with the sewer department’s sign-off once the WPCA conditions are met; the commission noted the two-year condition and the possibility of extensions or requests for updated analysis.