Friday, May 8, 2020
Notices sent to water customers in areas with high manganese levels By Jesse Buchanan Record-Journal staff
East Street area residents received notices last week about manganese levels in nearby public wells that have been turned off for the winter.
The new manganese levels are not mandated by the state Department of Public Health. Manganese, a mineral, was usually considered an aesthetic problem since it can discolor water. Bill Cassarella, water department superintendent, said the town shuts off two East Street wells with high manganese during low demand months and turns them on again in the summer.
Water Department leaders said a reduction in the recommended maximum level of manganese by state health officials prompted the notices. The department has shut off two wells that have manganese levels above the While important for healthy adults, the DPH said manganese can build new recommendation and are makup more quickly in infants who exing plans to install filtration systems.
crete less of the mineral than adults. Adding water with excess manganese to baby formula, which already contains the mineral, can also cause increased levels. Dangers from manganese are usually associated with metalworking professions, such as nervous system disorders among welders. According to the DPH, it's unclear whether ingesting manganese could do similar harm to the nervous system.
See Water, A2
Solar farm proposed for vacant parcel on East St. By Michael Gagne Record-Journal staff
plan to bring the proposal before the town's Planning and Zoning and Inland WetA Hartford-based solar ener- land/Conservation commisgy developer is seeking state sions. Developers are also approval to build a solar seeking feedback from resifarm on more than 100 acres dents and businesses near owned by the Archdiocese of the site. Hartford. The parcel is an ideal locaVerogy, the developer, is tion for a solar farm because hoping to install solar panels it consists of mostly open on 31 acres of the vacant flat land that would require field at 1012 East St. little clearing of vegetation, A solar farm is proposed for this field off East Street in Developers say local approvals are not needed, but Dave Zajac, Record-Journal See Solar, A12 Southington.
Exploring options for graduation ceremonies
By Michael Gagne Record-Journal staff
The last time Trevor Messina and fellow members of Southington High School’s class of 2020 met as a group was the second week of March — before their school and others around the region and state closed due to public health concerns around the spread of COVID-19. Schools have not yet physically reopened, with classes having been taught remotely since then. Winter and spring sports have been disrupted and canceled. Some area school districts had already canceled other activities, including junior and senior proms and theatrical productions. What Messina and other soon-to-be graduates are hoping for is that they get to cap off their high school careers with something that resembles a traditional high school graduation on the football field or an alternative commencement event. See Graduation, A9
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Volume 17, Number 19