We are getting closer and closer to our annual conference, set for June 8 at New Life Church in Wallingford. I hope everybody is planning on attending. I am looking forward to meeting all of you there. We are excited to host the Drinking Water Taste Test, so bring your water to compete to see who has the best tasting in the state. You can find more information and fill out the entry form here.

The CTRWWA Board of Directors is seeking a candidate for an open position on the board. If you are interested in serving on the board, please contact me at petegail609@aol.com, or you can call me at 860-377-8902.

I look forward to a great conference and a great rest of the year!

Thank you,

Pete Kasacek
CTRWWA President

Join us on Thursday, June 8 at the New Life Church, 350 High Hill Road in Wallingford, CT. This event typically draws 130-160 water & wastewater operators, managers, superintendents and system owners. Our conference features an exhibit hall as well as classroom sessions and trainings.

Registration is NOW OPEN! Visit our conference page for complete details.

Recently, Marty Cormier stepped down from the CTRWWA Board of Directors after a job change. We thank Marty for his wonderful leadership during his time as president. Pete Kasacek has taken his place as board president, but this has left a vacant seat. CTRRWA needs one of our members to volunteer to join our Board of Directors. The commitment would entail meeting online once a month, on the first Tuesday, and generally lasting just over an hour. If you want to help give back to our respective water and wastewater industries, this is an excellent opportunity to do that and to help build this Association for the future. We are a dynamic and active group and are very excited to find a new member.

If you are interested please contact our president, Pete Kasacek at petegail609@aol.com

Introducing Justin D’Antonio the new Executive Director. Justin is a dynamic professional with a passion for the banking and finance industry, coupled with a deep-rooted dedication to community development and making a positive impact. With a strong background in management and finance, Justin has consistently excelled in navigating the intricate world of banking, leveraging his expertise to drive growth and foster financial success.

Having embarked on a journey of exploration, Justin has developed a profound love for traveling, discovering diverse cultures, and expanding his horizons. He believes that immersing oneself in different environments fosters a broader understanding of the world and enhances a person’s ability to connect with individuals from all walks of life.

Beyond his professional pursuits, Justin has a genuine affinity for the water industry and the transformative power it holds. With an unwavering commitment to helping communities, he has actively sought opportunities to contribute to initiatives aimed at improving access to clean water, supporting sustainable practices, and advocating for environmental conservation.

Combining his extensive knowledge of banking, management, and finance with his passion for travel and dedication to community development, Justin strives to be a catalyst for positive change. Whether it's providing financial guidance to individuals and businesses, sharing insights on sustainable practices within the water industry, or actively engaging in community-driven projects, Justin embodies the spirit of a well-rounded professional committed to making a lasting impact.

With an unwavering drive to empower individuals, communities, and businesses, Justin continues to inspire others to pursue their dreams while fostering a better and more inclusive future for all.

The village of Noank is CT’s best little secret.  Executive Director, Justin D’Antonio and I had the privilege to spend some time in the Noank Fire District this month.  Russ and his operators, Ted and Frank were so accommodating in locating curb stops and valve boxes and making sure everything was ready for leak locating.

Groton has tagged a few streets in Noank for asphalt restoration.  Noank Fire District asked me to come down to the system to check for leaks on the selected streets.  I used the correlation and the ground mic together to get the best results. I was thrilled to help a small system plan for future work. 

If your small public water system has unaccounted for water and needs help with finding a leak, technical assistance, or needs help with funding/applications, please contact me.  I would be happy to meet with you and put a plan together.

See you at the CTRWWA Annual Conference!

Thank you,

Virginia Bragger
Circuit Rider

Sign up for the NRWA PFAS Cost Recovery Program today by visiting https://www.napolilaw.com/nrwa-pfas/. There is no cost to utilities to register for the program and no detects of PFAS are required to sign up. 

Ted Donoghue is the Superintendent of the Litchfield Connecticut Wastewater Treatment Faculty—a Class IV licensed wastewater operator, and the Secretary for the Board of Directors for CTRWWA.

Ted is passionate about wastewater and understands the need to have CTRWWA work for its members. He is working to create the foundation for mentoring, networking and advocacy for the industry in Connecticut, particularly for small rural systems, like Litchfield, which have unique needs and challenges. Ted is excited to be serving the membership and can be reached by email at wpca@townoflicthfield.org.

Ted is also passionate about music and enjoys listening to vinyl, as well as attending concerts, cooking, skiing, boogie boarding, being outdoors all years round, and taking care of his German Shepard, Mason.

“I have been part of the BOD for well over a year now and we have achieved much success, but we still have plenty of work to do to support and grow our membership, help promote the USDA Wastewater Program, and to provide the necessary training and services to small public and private wastewater treatment systems and their operators, ” Ted says.

The goal of the Wastewater Technical/Training Assistance Program is to provide on-site technical assistance/training to Public Wastewater Utilities throughout the state of Connecticut in all aspects of operations and utility management to protect the systems infrastructure, achieve compliance with State Regulatory Agencies.

Job Duties:

1. Travels to systems throughout Connecticut to offer on-site technical assistance.
2. Provides technical assistance in all areas of wastewater operations and management.
3. Provides training on-site as well as setting up training sessions on priority topics.
4. Attending NRWA-specific training on continuing the education of the Wastewater Technician/Training Position.
5. Visits the State Rural Development District office quarterly for updates and priority systems recommendations.
6. Accurately completes and submits the required reporting in the required timely fashion.

Minimum Requirements:

• Five years of experience in the Wastewater/Water field.
• Knowledge of local government operations and public utilities is preferred but not required.
• Valid Driver’s License and reliable transportation·

Salary/Benefits:

• Salary is Negotiable based on experience
• Excellent benefits package

To apply, please send your resume to both Justin D'Antonio at jdantonio@ctrwwa.org and Susan Poe at susan@nrwa.org.