Fairfield County, Connecticut — public water systems

How does Fairfield County compare with other Connecticut counties?

Fairfield County has the 3rd-most active public water systems among the 22 counties listed for active Connecticut systems in EPA records; among the 9 with 3 or more systems, the median has 277. Its systems report 778,730 people served in total, the 2nd-largest county figure in the state and 26% of the statewide total. The average system here reports serving 2,311 people, about 85% above the Connecticut average of 1,247. Population figures are what each system reports; people served by more than one system, such as a wholesaler and the town that buys from it, are counted by each.

Where does Fairfield County's drinking water come from?

By primary water source, Fairfield County's active systems draw on groundwater (318, 94%), purchased surface water (11, 3.3%), surface water (7, 2.1%) and groundwater under influence of surface water (1, 0.3%). Overall, 95% rely mainly on groundwater (including purchased groundwater) and 5.3% on surface water, compared with 96% and 3.8% across Connecticut. Groundwater means the system draws its water from wells or springs fed by underground aquifers. The county's largest system, Aquarion-Eastern Fairfield County, draws primarily on surface water.

What kinds of water systems operate in Fairfield County?

Fairfield County's active systems break down as 61 community systems (18%), 84 non-transient non-community systems (25%) and 192 transient non-community systems (57%). A community water system serves at least 15 connections used by year-round residents, or regularly serves at least 25 year-round residents. Homes, apartments and mobile-home parks are served by these. A non-transient non-community water system regularly serves at least 25 of the same people for more than six months a year, but not where they live. Schools, factories, office buildings and hospitals with their own supply are typical examples. A transient non-community water system serves places where people do not stay long, such as gas stations and campgrounds, and regularly serves at least 25 people a day for at least 60 days a year. EPA lists their owner types as private (85%), local government (13%), state government (1.8%) and federal government (0.3%).