Notes from the Old Noank Jail

The Noank Water Company

by Ed Johnson

On March 1st, 2012, the Noank Water Company will celebrate 50 years of successfully distributing a life-sustaining substance at reasonable costs to the area which it serves. The construction of this system in 1962 and the additions in subsequent years have vastly improved the availability of safe drinking water and fire protection for the Noank Fire District. We thank Superintendent Russell Fowler for providing information which updates our previous 01/22/09 TIMES article “Deactivated but not Forgotten.”

Prior to 1962, two projects were developed by “Deacon” Palmer of Noank to bring water to his Noank Shipyard, starting around 1899. The first involved creation of a dam and pumping station at Eccleston Brook near Haley Farm Bridge. A long 2.5″ supply pipeline was laid under water from the pumping station via Palmer Cove, the railroad and vehicle bridges, Esker Point and east into Davis Court. This was connected to steam boilers to power shipbuilding machinery. Parts of this system can still be seen near Haley Farm bridge.

A Corey hydrant system was also installed for fire protection and drinking water at the shipyard.This system consisted of a wooden water tower for extra hydrant pressure, mounted above a 20′ x 20′ well, both installed on Cedar Street and connected to four hydrants. One was on Main Street (near Carson’s), two on Pearl Street and one at the Shipyard. The system was in service until 1962, supplementing the firefighting method of drafting seawater, and the Noank Fire Department still owns a 1939 Seagrave pumper from that period. This Corey system was deactivated by 1963, with the well filled in and the water tower dismantled. Two inactive hydrants on Main and Pearl Streets still remain visible.

From 1942 through 1961, water supply studies were made because population growth exceeded local well capacity, state highway projects (Rt 215) were in process and firefighting capability was limited. Many local wells became polluted by detergents in the ground water and a desalinization (pilot) plant was even considered as a possible supply system from the sea. Finally, on December 1,1961, Lindsay Fowler (Russell’s father) became Chairman of a new 15 member Noank Water Commission and plans became finalized for a new water distribution system.

On March 1, 1962, a new design by Metcalf and Eddy had been accepted and ground was broken as the official starting date of the Noank Water Company. This system was completed by December 1st, 1962 at a cost of $463,893. A new 250,000 gallon water tower off Brook Street was added at a cost of $17,428 by January 1st, 1963, with the system now supplied by the Groton Town water system. The total Noank water distribution piping totaled 10.5 miles and the first Superintendent was J. Halstead Brown.

Over the following 50 years, there were major additions to the original water system. Key sub -division projects included Tanglewood, Fisher’s View, Mainsail, plus the initial Mystic River Homes project, all in 1975. Subsequent additions included Brookview in 1987, Lighthouse Overlook in 2001, Crosswinds subdivision & Fishtown Road extension in 2002, with Crosswinds-Loweth and Noank Village Boatyard extensions in 2003. Meanwhile, an addition was made at Mystic River Homes to include a large new Congregate building.

A problem developed on Old Brook Street area near Eccleston Brook with residents still using wells which had become contaminated. By 2004, a branch loop was added to serve 28 residences, with a larger supply pipe on Groton Long Point Road providing additional water pressure for the Noank system. A 500,000 gallon tank had been installed at the top of Fort Hill in Groton, so in 2005 the existing Noank tank off Brook Street was dismantled.

Noank has had seven water Superintendents, serving various term lengths, the longest being Russell Fowler’s at 14 years. Because of the size and complexity of the additions, for the past 6 years, Fowler has been helped by a Field Assistant, Frank Lewis. The two men supervise a water distribution system containing over 730 residential and 31 business connections, 86 Fire Hydrants, 282 isolation gate valves and 15 miles of underground pipe.

In such a critical business, subject to increasing environmental regulations, Mr. Fowler’s department is well recognized and received an award in 2006 for “Outstanding Operations” by the Atlantic States Rural & Wastewater Association. Periodic 5 year plans, requiring considerable detail, are submitted to the Department of Public Health. The Fire District also hopes to qualify for future grants on water system upgrades, difficult to achieve in today’s economy.

Perhaps most important for local residents, however, are the printed warnings by Mr. Fowler when he indicates that water flow hydrant tests will be conducted in their neighborhoods…so they shouldn’t do their laundry that day! However, no tests shall be conducted on Thursday, March 1st, 2012…when the 50th anniversary can be celebrated by all…with a nice glass of clean, cool water…a precious commodity.