CT Officials Demand Action Over Sewage Discharges in Connecticut River

Connecticut leaders are raising alarms about massive sewage discharges flowing down from Massachusetts into the Connecticut River. They warn that untreated waste is undermining decades of environmental investment and threatening public health in communities from Enfield and Windsor Locks to Middletown and Old Saybrook.

With combined sewer overflows in key Massachusetts cities sending millions of gallons of raw sewage downstream, state officials here are pressing federal regulators to step in. They’re pushing for faster, better-funded fixes.

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Connecticut Sounds the Alarm Over Upstream Sewage

In a forceful move, Attorney General William Tong joined state lawmakers in a formal letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. They urged swift action on sewage discharges entering the Connecticut River from upstream communities in Massachusetts.

At the heart of their concern are combined sewer overflows (CSOs)—older systems that carry both sewage and stormwater. During heavy rain, these systems can dump a mix of stormwater and untreated sewage right into rivers, including the Connecticut River that flows past towns like Hartford, East Hartford, Glastonbury, and Rocky Hill.

Health, Recreation, and Wildlife at Risk

Officials warn that CSO events send a toxic mix of bacteria, pathogens, and chemicals into the river. For residents in river communities such as Enfield, Windsor, and Cromwell, that means higher risks when they swim, paddle, fish, or just spend time along the riverbank.

State leaders stress these discharges aren’t just a nuisance. They can trigger beach closures and harm aquatic life.

They worry that years of work to turn the Connecticut River into a cleaner, more accessible resource for residents across the greater Hartford and lower Connecticut River Valley regions are being threatened.

Massachusetts Discharges Measured in the Hundreds of Millions of Gallons

Connecticut’s concern is backed by fresh data from across the border. A 2024 report from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) details extensive CSO activity from facilities not far from the Connecticut state line.

According to that report, a significant portion of the wastewater being discharged into the river from Massachusetts communities is untreated raw sewage. It’s not partially treated or diluted effluent.

Holyoke, Chicopee, and Springfield Lead the Overflow Totals

Several Massachusetts cities are identified as major contributors:

In July alone, a facility in Holyoke released more than 7 million gallons of sewage into the Connecticut River.

Over the course of last year, Chicopee, Holyoke, and Springfield together discharged a staggering 511 million gallons.

Holyoke by itself dumped 155 million gallons from 10 separate outfalls, all draining directly into the river—flows that ultimately pass by Connecticut communities such as Suffield, Windsor Locks, Hartford, and Portland.

For Connecticut residents kayaking in Glastonbury, casting a line in Wethersfield, or boating off Haddam, these upstream volumes translate into real local impacts on water clarity, odor, and safety. People notice the difference, and it’s hard not to feel frustrated.

Connecticut’s Investments Versus Limited Authority

State officials say Connecticut has already poured hundreds of millions of dollars into wastewater and sewer upgrades from Hartford and New Haven to smaller river towns like East Haddam and Deep River.

The problem: Connecticut has no direct authority to regulate what happens across the border. Local systems have been improved to dramatically cut back on CSOs in places like Hartford and West Hartford, but discharges from Massachusetts still flow downstream into the same waters Connecticut residents use.

Rep. Zawistowski Pushes for Regional Solutions

State Rep. Tami Zawistowski, whose district includes several north-central Connecticut communities near the Massachusetts line, has taken a hands-on role by meeting directly with Massachusetts leaders, including Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia.

The goal of those conversations is to build a regional strategy to reduce sewage overflows. That includes better coordination on infrastructure planning, maximizing federal funding, and making sure fixes upstream in Massachusetts complement upgrades already underway downstream in Connecticut.

Massachusetts Cites Aging Systems and Climate Pressures

Massachusetts officials acknowledge the severity of the CSO problem but point to two major drivers: aging infrastructure and more frequent heavy rainfall, a trend many connect to climate change.

They note that since 2023, Massachusetts has committed more than $15 million to sewer and stormwater improvements. These projects aim to reduce overflows in riverfront cities like Holyoke and Springfield, whose discharges ultimately affect water quality in Connecticut cities such as Hartford, Middletown, and New London.

Federal Cuts Could Slow Cleanup Efforts

Both states are sounding the alarm over proposed federal funding cuts that could derail or delay long-planned infrastructure upgrades. Without strong federal backing, local and state governments may struggle to afford the large-scale projects needed to fully separate storm and sanitary sewers or build modern treatment capacity.

Connecticut officials argue that strengthening, not shrinking, federal investment is essential if the region is serious about reducing CSOs and protecting the river corridor that ties together communities from Springfield and Holyoke to Hartford, Middletown, and the shoreline.

A Shared River Demands Shared Responsibility

Even with tensions over upstream discharges, leaders in both states actually agree on something important: the Connecticut River is a shared resource. What happens in Massachusetts doesn’t just stop at the state line.

Communities downstream—East Hartford, Cromwell, Old Saybrook—have to deal with the consequences. It’s a reality that’s hard to ignore if you live or work anywhere near the river.

Connecticut keeps pushing the EPA to step up. They want faster oversight, bold infrastructure projects, and for the river to be treated as the interstate lifeline it truly is.

For residents, boaters, anglers, and wildlife, the stakes are high. We’re talking about everything from public health to the long-term economic and recreational future of riverfront towns all across the state.

Here is the source article for this story: CT officials press EPA, Massachusetts over sewage dumps Into Connecticut River

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