Shays Shepherds Norwalk
through First Step Toward $1 million for Environmental Improvements
Washington, D.C. –Congressman Christopher Shays (R-CT)
announced today the City of Norwalk has cleared its first
hurdle in securing $1 million in federal funds for water and
wastewater infrastructure improvements. The Fiscal Year 2007
Interior Appropriations bill, which included $1,000,000 Shays
requested for Norwalk’s Keeler Brook watershed, was
approved at the House subcommittee level today.
“This is a great first step to help Norwalk acquire
the support it needs to address the challenge of dealing with
wastewater in an environmentally sound manner,” Shays
said. “It is a long legislative process and I will be
fighting for this funding each step of the way.”
“This will be a great benefit for the City and will
save taxpayers local property tax, if it continues to go forward,”
said Norwalk Mayor Dick Moccia. “We are very happy it
has gone this far and thank Congressman Shays and the Delegation
for their support.”
Background on the Project
Due to development pressures, the watershed area surrounding
Keeler Brook can’t handle the large volume of urbanized
runoff it receives. Keeler Brook appears to play a role in
contributing to problems within the City's wastewater collection
system that have ultimately led to pump station overflows
The recent Flood Abatement Study found that the overflows
in this watershed results in significant inflow into the sewer
system and overwhelms the Keeler Brook pumping station. It
recommended the wholesale replacement of the existing pipe
arch culverts on these streets with larger box culverts, as
well as the excavation and reconfiguration of a significant
percentage of the existing stream channel to create sufficient
hydraulic capacity to pass flows corresponding to a 100-year
event.
Contact: Sarah Moore, 202/225-5541
-30-
|