Noank Water Company

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 Annual 2025 NWC Report

Noank Water Company once again delivered as promised the highest quality water for our customers. Over the last year we were tasked to prove without a shadow of doubt that Noank water system is lead free. Our task was to insure every home connected to our water supply be inspected from the Main line to your house is free of lead. NWC completed the survey with 99% of ours homes data. Thanks to Chuck Toal, a member of our community who plaid a big part of the heavy lift and Frank Lewis with his years of local knowledge. I can say with certainty Noank is lead free.

Our water company data was all paper. Every connection card, water mains and valves also on paper. Same goes with our fire hydrant and testing data. NWC located and engage with a engineering firm to collect all our data on a GIS, ESRI program with all of our system information in one location. Many of our records haven’t been updated since the early 60’s with houses only listed as lot numbers and original owner. Our goals to have our records up to date this year. We are excited to begin using the program sometime this summer.

Potter Court had a history of water main breaks and according to the State under sized pipes. Last fall we upgraded the system along the streets to every resident including updates to the gate valves and hydrants. Look out for the TOG to begin repaving Potter CT coming soon.

Elm Street Culvert project is in full swing. As many know the contractor unintentionally caused a major failure causing 27 hours without water to the northern end of Noank including our most vulnerable and densely populated community. This catastrophic event showed us the current design of our system needs to be improved and we are currently working with our engineers to remedy the problem. Starting June 2nd the project will begin replacing the culvert. The traffic lights and crossing lights are temporary. The project is will be completed September-November time frame with wider sidewalks, repaving, and new landscaping with indigenous plants.

Finally, the 2 Bridges on GLP road, 1 over Amtrak and second crossing over Palmers cove to GlP are scheduled to be replaced. NWC is overseeing the new design and temporary relocation of water system in the area. Both bridges will be constructed simultaneously from Labor Day to Memorial Day to avoid peak traffic congestion. Both bridges will be single lanes for most of the project. As of today I’m not aware of the start date’s yet. The project is slated for two seasons.

Respectfully Submitted Theodore Rathjen, superintendent NWC

 

The Noank Fire District would like to extend a sincere thanks to Russ Fowler upon his retirement from the Noank Water Company for all his years of service to the Noank community. Russ served on the Zoning Commission in many capacities for close to 30 years. He served as the Water Company Superintendent for 26 years, starting in 1998. In that capacity, he handled hundreds of CBYD calls, annual hydrant flushings, water testing, and more than a few water main breaks. He also handled customer complaints/problems with good humor. His major achievement was the replacement of the Mosher Avenue Bridge. He acted as liaison to the state for the project. While it took longer than anticipated, the village now has a safe new bridge which is largely due to the persistence of Russ. In addition he ran the Harrison Morton Ward Post 115 of the American Legion. We can thank Russ for organizing our Memorial Day Parade which was sponsored by the American Legion. We all wish him a wonderful retirement and are looking forward to seeing him around Noank.