Connecticut Water President and CEO to Participate in ConnStruct Infrastructure Summit on Nov. 17

Nov. 15, 2023 — Connecticut Water announced today that Craig J. Patla, P.E., president and CEO of the company, is joining Governor Ned Lamont and a distinguished panel of experts to discuss the importance of infrastructure investment by both the public and private sectors at the ConnStruct Infrastructure Summit on November 17. The Connecticut Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Team is hosting the event in Hartford.

The theme of the Summit is imagining what Connecticut will look like in 2035, an idea Patla said is a “really interesting one.”

“I’m honored to join the Governor and other infrastructure experts to discuss the criticality of investing in infrastructure in Connecticut and the region over the next dozen years and beyond,” said Patla.  “Imagining what Connecticut will look like in 2035 is smart because it involves a long-term vision, and requires long-term planning to make that vision a reality. Connecticut Water is planning today to meet customers’ needs in 2035 and for the next 50 years.”

“Every dollar Connecticut Water invests in drinking water and wastewater infrastructure across our 60 service communities is intended to build and maintain vital infrastructure necessary for clean water, reliable service, and dependable water flow to fire hydrants for fire suppression. The ripple effects of that investment build the tax base of the community and benefit the local economy by providing good paying construction and support jobs.  And by definition, investing in infrastructure is investing in a more reliable, sustainable future.”

In 2023, Connecticut Water is expected to invest approximately $70 million in its infrastructure. Approximately $28 million is targeted to replacement of aging or under-sized water mains that in some cases are 100 or more years old through the Water Infrastructure and Conservation Adjustment (WICA).

Other significant investments include a $12 million investment in water treatment in East Windsor, a new water storage tank in Plainfield, and installation of a 275 kilowatt/hour solar generation array at the company’s headquarters in Clinton that will meet 100% of the energy needs of office and its Shoreline work center. The solar installation will also help reduce purchased power expense for years to come that will benefit Connecticut Water’s customers.

Patla added, “The consequences of deferring investment in water and wastewater systems can be dire. One has to look no further than news headlines in our own country where people do not have access to safe water. That’s not who we are in Connecticut and continued focus on infrastructure makes sure we don’t go there.”

Details on the ConnStruct Infrastructure Summit can be found at https://uconnuecs.cventevents.com/event/d78be8bd-ec25-4050-80d8-dd8a8333830e/summary

About Connecticut Water
The Connecticut Water Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of SJW Group (NYSE: SJW), is a public water utility that is regulated by the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority. The company provides water service to more than 107,000 customers in 60 Connecticut towns and wastewater services to 3,000 customers in the town of Southbury, Connecticut. 

The towns served are Ashford, Avon, Beacon Falls, Bethany, Bolton, Brooklyn, Burlington, Canton, Chester, Clinton, Colchester, Columbia, Coventry, Deep River, Durham, East Granby, East Haddam, East Hampton, East Windsor, Ellington, Enfield, Essex, Farmington, Griswold, Guilford, Haddam, Hebron, Killingly, Killingworth, Lebanon, Madison, Manchester, Mansfield, Marlborough, Middlebury, Naugatuck, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook, Oxford, Plainfield, Plymouth, Portland, Prospect, Simsbury, Somers, Southbury, South Windsor, Stafford, Stonington, Suffield, Thomaston, Thompson, Tolland, Vernon, Voluntown, Waterbury, Westbrook, Willington, Windsor Locks and Woodstock.