Water Pollution Control Authority

Introduction to the WPCA

Water supply and wastewater treatment are two community services that are closely interrelated. Approximately 85% of the water consumed eventually ends up in the sewer system. This wastewater is collected and transported by way of sanitary sewers and pumping stations to the wastewater treatment plant before disposal to the receiving waters. Stamford has a separate sewer system unlike some communities that have a combined sewer system where storm and sanitary water flow through the same set of pipes..

Drinking water in Stamford is provided by a private company, whereas, wastewater treatment is provided to the community through the municipal government system. The Stamford facility also treats wastewater from the neighboring community of Darien. The Stamford treatment facility is an advanced wastewater treatment plant which uses bacteria and microorganisms to convert the pollutants in the wastewater to carbon dioxide and water and the ammonia to nitrogen gas.

This type of wastewater collection and treatment system is required in a community like Stamford in order to protect the general public from the infectious diseases carried by raw sewage, and also to protect the quality of the receiving water so that it can support fish, shellfish and wildlife, as well as provide for recreation in and on the water.

Federal, State and Local laws have been passed establishing certain criteria that must be met regarding water quality standards. The Federal regulations are enforced by the State government under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES).