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HB 5522

AN ACT CONCERNING THE SEWAGE RIGHT-TO-KNOW ACT AND REQUIRING A REPORT CONCERNING WELL CONTAMINATION PROTOCOLS.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Hector Arzeno and 15 co-sponsors

Connecticut bill requiring public disclosure of municipal and water authority sewage discharge data, treatment practices, and contamination incidents to increase water quality transparency.

SENATE CALENDAR NUMBER 464
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Bill Summary · HB 5522

Legislative bill overview

HB 5522, titled the "Sewage Right-to-Know Act," establishes transparency requirements for sewage and wastewater information in Connecticut. The bill requires municipalities and water authorities to disclose sewage discharge data, treatment practices, and contamination incidents to the public. This appears designed to give residents access to information about what enters local water systems and how sewage is managed.

Why is this important

Sewage discharge and water quality directly affect public health, environmental conditions, and property values in affected communities. Residents downstream from discharge points have legitimate interests in understanding potential contamination risks, combined sewer overflows during storms, or treatment failures. Such transparency can drive infrastructure improvements and inform personal health decisions.

Potential points of contention

  • Compliance costs: Municipalities may argue that comprehensive data collection and public reporting systems require significant funding that strains already-tight budgets
  • Proprietary concerns: Water authorities might claim certain treatment processes or facility details constitute sensitive infrastructure information that shouldn't be public
  • Information complexity: Raw sewage data requires scientific context to interpret correctly; oversimplified public disclosure could cause unnecessary alarm or be misunderstood without proper explanation

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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