Monthly Archives: August 2022

Stage Three Drought Declaration

Posted by bougesd On August 23, 2022 at 3:30 pm | Comments Closed

This past week Governor Ned Lamont declared a Stage 3 (moderate) drought level for New London and Windham counties. The announcement was made at the recommendation of the Connecticut Interagency Drought Workgroup due to serious conditions that are emerging in these areas due to a particularly dry summer.

Cumulative precipitation in the Groton area is approximately five inches below the recorded 91-year average. At present Groton Utilities water customers should have no concerns, as water supplies are at 84% capacity with well over two billion gallons of water available.

The Groton Utilities watershed covers 15 square miles and is very resilient, and even a minimal rainfall can substantially improve water supply. Groton Utilities has a specific operating plan for its reservoir system during drought conditions that is utilized to minimize evaporation, ensure water quality, maintain proper water levels and preserve groundwater reserves. Be assured that Groton Utilities is prepared for drought and any other emergency conditions at all times and has a sufficient supply of water.

If you have any questions or concerns about our current water supply levels and how it affects you, please visit our website or reach out to Customer Service at 860-446-4000. Further updates will be posted when available.

Full statement from Governor Lamont
Stage Three Drought Precautions

About Groton Utilities: Serving the Community since 1904, Groton Utilities is a municipally owned and operated utility providing electric, water and sewage services to thousands of consumers in Southeastern Connecticut.

Call Before You Dig – It’s the Law.

Posted by bougesd On August 11, 2022 at 8:56 am | Comments Closed

CBYDThe most important first step! Always contact CBYD before work begins so underground utilities are located and marked. Smart, safe digging is no accident.

Contractors working on behalf of utilities can make dangerous assumptions about the need to have utility lines marked before commencing excavation works. Don’t risk it! It’s the law to contact CBYD first, and is critical in the prevention of damage to underground utilities and avoiding seriously (potentially deadly) injuries.

Call Before You Dig, Inc., (CBYD) is a state regulated, nonprofit organization comprised of all public utilities and municipalities within the State of Connecticut. The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) oversees CBYD. The organization is administered by a board of annually elected directors representing various public and private utilities.

The purpose of CBYD is to function as a statewide, onecall notification system providing excavators, including the general public, with the ability to inform multiple owners and operators of underground facilities during proposed excavations.

Every project that requires digging starts with CBYD! But why?

 

  1. Its the law!
  2. You must call for a locate request at least two full working days but not more than 30 days before any excavation starts. (Excluding holidays & weekends).
  3. You must submit locate requests regardless of whether the location of the excavation is public or private property. You must call even if it is on private property, out in the middle of a field, or on a street that has no name.
  4. You must submit locate requests if you are using mechanized equipment even if you are only excavating a few inches or just surface grading. If you move material, or plan to drill or drive anything into the ground… you must call.
  5. Do NOT rely on old marks or faulty information… submit an E-Ticket or call CBYD for your own locate request.
  6. Before submitting an E-Ticket or calling CBYD, you must pre-mark the area you plan to excavate with white paint, flags, or white tipped stakes.
  7. When investigators from the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) inspect an excavation site or investigate damage, they will check to see if you have a valid locate request. Remember, locate requests expire 30 days from the date it was created.
  8. Emergency situations require an emergency CBYD ticket. An emergency is: a situation involving danger to life, health, or property, interrupting the operation of a major industrial plant, or disrupting the continuity of public utility service.
  9. In an emergency, submit a ticket online or call CBYD with the location and details of the emergency excavation as soon as possible. The excavator or responsible party is required to notify all utilities listed on the ticket directly.
  10. To protect yourself, others working around you, the community residents and the underground assets.

Tim Jackson Awarded 2022 Community Service Award

Posted by bougesd On August 8, 2022 at 11:16 am | Comments Closed

Timothy Jackson was awarded the Groton Utilities Jacqueline B. Nixon Community Service Award during a ceremony at Groton City Day on Friday, August 5th in Washington Park. The award is given out annually to a member of the City of Groton community who exemplifies GU’s slogan of “Giving Back to the Community”.

As part of winning this honor Groton Utilities presented a check for $1,000 to the Bill Memorial Library in the name of Timothy Jackson at his request.

Tim has offered his time and building skills to a number of local non-profits over many years, using his repair and construction skills at Bill Memorial Library extensively. Among the tasks he has performed, Tim overhauled their story-time benches, reworked and painted outdoor benches, posted a handicapped parking sign and repainted the parking spot, reinforced the handicapped ramp, sanded and repainted railings at the front entrance, built shadow boxes around artwork and designed a custom doorstop for the heavy, 1890s door.

Tim has replaced countless light bulbs, installed numerous curtains and blinds, helped to carry many pieces of large furniture, and caulked leaks all over the library. He has saved the library time and money doing the work himself instead of the library hiring repair companies, movers, painters and more – all while sharing his wonderful sense of humor and boundless energy.

Tim has been an active member of GOSA (Groton Open Space Association) for many years. He received GOSA’s Spotted Salamander Award, its highest honor, for his dedicated stewardship services to GOSA.

Through GOSA he participated in many hours of land management projects, performing heavy lifting, trail building, invasive plant removal, tree removal, mowing, earth moving, street clean-up activities and many dump runs, generously using his best asset, a nifty pick-up truck. Tim also participated in public events, maning a GOSA table, and distributing flyers and maps about our land preservation activities.

Additionally Tim graciously volunteered to construct and install benches at Fort Griswold State Park. He also built three new landing platforms for the Thames River Heritage Park water taxi.

Groton Utilities is pleased to present this award to Mr. Jackson for giving back to our community selflessly, sincerely, willingly and with great pride. Tim was nominated for this award by Bill Memorial Library Director Wendy Connal.

Groton Utilities named the award, The Jacqueline B. Nixon Community Service Award, to commemorate Mrs. Nixon’s service to her community. Jackie, as she was known to most, gave back to the community in many ways, including operating a food pantry in her residence for 24 years. She distributed food on a regular basis to many needy families. Jackie passed away July 6, 2004 after a brief battle with cancer. Groton Utilities created the award in 2004 during its 100th anniversary year.

Earle A. Williams was the recipient of the first annual Jacqueline B. Nixon Community Service Award. Other winners of the award are: Robert Leeney, Mimi Orkney, Lillian Hansen, Sarah Stanley, William Welsh, Jr., Alfred Restivo, Robert Austin LaFrance, Archie C. Swindell, Mildred Carlson, Lian Obrey, James Streeter, Charlie Ebbinghaus, Marcia Gipstein, Martin Cloudas, Timothy LeHouillier, Beatrice Jennette and Barbara Frucht.