Aquarion Water Company

Latest Activities

JULY ’11 — Marchers who participated in the annual Barnum Festival Parade were greeted by volunteers from Aquarion and Bridgeport Kiwanis Club offering drinking water at the end of the parade route.

JUNE ’11 — Aquarion Water Company was one of the sponsors for opening day of the Monroe Farmers' Market.

JUNE ’11 — Customers from throughout Fairfield County came to Trumbull Town Hall to pick up rain barrels they purchased through Aquarion at significantly reduced cost. Aquarion promoted the rain barrels as a way to conserve water and spend less money on outdoor water use.

JUNE ’11 — Aquarion employees raised more than $5,000 with an in-house fund-raiser and dispersed the money among diaper banks in Connecticut. Part of the money also went to The Community Closet in Bridgeport to provide beds for city children. Earlier this year, employees conducted a blanket drive and donated seven large bins worth of blankets and winter coats to The Community Closet.

JUNE ’11 — Students from Harding High School's special needs class enjoyed a day of fishing at Aquarion's Saugatuck Reservoir, where they first received lessons in baiting hooks and casting. By the time they left, each of them had caught - and released - at least one fish. Aquarion opens three of its reservoirs - the Saugatuck in Weston/Redding, Far Mill in Shelton and West Pequonnock in Monroe - to people who have a state fishing license and a permit from the company. Permits cost $25 and can be obtained at the Aspetuck Environmental Center, 714 Black Rock Road, Easton, or at various town halls and bait shops in Fairfield County (look on this website for more information)

MAY ’11 — Aquarion Water Company provided water for two community events, the Make-A-Wish Foundation's Heroes Parade in Fairfield, and the Bridgeport Hospital Home Run Race.

MAY ’11 — Monsignor William Schultz, pastor of Our Lady of Grace Church in Stratford, accepted a van donated by Aquarion Water Company to be used at a school in Haiti.

MAY ’11 — Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch and Aquarion President and CEO Charles V. Firlotte planted a tree at Beardsley Park, near the footbridge, to cap off an erosion-control effort that involved Aquarion employees and a Parks Department crew. Together they cleared a section of the bank at the edge of Bunnell's Pond, planted shrubbery and trees, laid in a mulch pathway to the water's edge for anglers, and installed a bench Aquarion donated. The project had historical significance to both Aquarion and the city, since Bunnell's Pond was Aquarion's first reservoir in the late 1800s, and Beardsley Park was designed by renowned landscape architect Frederick Law Olmstead, who also designed Central Park.

MAY ’11 — Aquarion Water Company conducted its first annual search for Connecticut's Environmental Champions, culminating in an award ceremony at Beardsley Zoo. U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal presented an Environmental Champion award to representatives of Northrop Grumman Corp.; DPUC Vice Chairman and Commissioner Jack Betkoski presented awards to Simsbury High School student Natalie Valentin and to Richard Emmons of Stamford, who teaches fishing classes through a state program; and CT Post Editor Tom Baden presented an award to Clean Up Sound and Harbor, a non-profit organization based in Stonington that monitors water quality in the Harbor from Mystic to the Rhode Island border.

APRIL ’11 — Workers from Aquarion Water Company marked Earth Day by building new footbridges over streams on the Saugatuck Trail to replace rotting structures. The Saugatuck Trail runs through Aquarion's watershed in Redding and Weston and is open to the public for hiking. Permits that can be obtained at the Aspetuck Environmental Center, 714 Black Rock Road, Easton, or at a kiosk at the trail's entrance (look on this website for more details).

Elsewhere in Connecticut, Aquarion employees returned to the Boy Scouts' Camp Barbour in Norfolk to resume clearing trails and replacing aged water pipes. Danbury Girl Scouts visited the Aspetuck Environmental Center to learn about watershed, invasive species and career development, and then participated in field exercises that qualify them for an environmental merit badge. In addition, Aquarion provided financial support for the annual Earth Day clean-up in Redding.

APRIL ’11 — Among its annual Earth Day activities, Aquarion Water Company presented two benches at the edge of the Housatonic River in Shelton to the city's mayor, Mark A. Lauretti. Aquarion's President and CEO, Charles V. Firlotte, was present as well to greet paddlers from the Housatonic Valley Association (HVA), including Aquarion's Director of Water Quality, John Herlihy, and to host a breakfast for all participants. The HVA conducted the river trip in celebration of its 75th anniversary.

APRIL ’11 — Representatives from Aquarion Water Company participated in environmental fairs at Housatonic Community College and in Fairfield, promoting rain barrels as an environmentally friendly and cost-efficient way to water gardens, wash cars and use water for other outdoor purposes in spring and summer.

APRIL ’11 — A team of five men from Aquarion Water Company participated in a St. Baldrick's event at Harbor Yard Arena. They shaved their heads to raise funds for childhood cancer research.

DECEMBER ’10 — Aquarion became the primary sponsor of Stratford’s Mistletoe Mansion holiday event at Sterling House community center.

DECEMBER ’10 — Aquarion’s Corporate Contributions Committee sponsored a Toys for Tots drive among employees, and also purchased hats, gloves and scarves for residents of several homeless shelters in Fairfield County.

DECEMBER ’10 — Aquarion executives met with the Customer Advisory Boards in Fairfield County and Litchfield-Simsbury to discuss various company initiatives.

NOVEMBER ’10 — Thirsty, Aquarion’s penguin mascot, greeted children along Seymour’s Main Street during the town’s annual Christmas Parade.

NOVEMBER ’10 — Aquarion’s Customer Service Representatives conducted a bake sale at the company’s Monroe and Bridgeport facilities and used the proceeds to provide turkeys for the Bridgeport Rescue Mission.

NOVEMBER ’10 — Solar panels went up on the roof of Aquarion’s operations facility on Lindley Street, Bridgeport, for a pilot program the company has launched to explore the value of this alternate energy source.

NOVEMBER ’10 — Children at Teddy Bear Treehouse pre-school in Seymour learned about the importance of saving water when Thirsty, Aquarion’s penguin mascot, came to visit.

NOVEMBER ’10 — Len DeJong, Aquarion’s Manager of Watershed & Environmental Management, discussed the company’s environmental initiatives as guest speaker for the Stratford Rotary Club.

OCTOBER ’10 — Aquarion hosted high school students from the Bridgeport area at its headquarters and operations facility in conjunction with Junior Achievement’s annual Job Shadow Day. Students toured the buildings and learned about careers in the water industry.

OCTOBER ’10 — An Aquarion representative was on hand for the opening of the Science, Technology and Engineering Lab at Helen Keller Middle School, Easton, for which Aquarion was a donor.

OCTOBER ’10 — Aquarion employees assisted at a pharmaceuticals collection in Darien. The company sponsored the first event of this kind in Fairfield County in October 2009, partnering with St. Vincent’s Medical Center, and since then several communities have conducted similar programs with participation from Aquarion staff.

OCTOBER ’10 — Aquarion Water Company sponsored a booth at a two-day Green Expo at Bridgeport’s Barnum Museum, providing water and biodegradable water bottles, as well as health facts about water.

OCTOBER ’10 — Thirsty, Aquarion’s penguin mascot, greeted children and signed autographs at two community events the first weekend of October: Beacon Falls Riverfest and Shelton Day. Aquarion also provided its water truck and distributed water and biodegradable water bottles at the two festivals.

SEPTEMBER ’10 — Employees contributed toiletries, treats and more to a company-wide collection for the troops. The items filled 34 boxes, which were sent to relatives of Aquarion employees serving in Afghanistan to distribute to their fellow soldiers.

SEPTEMBER ’10 — The Housatonic Valley Association honored Aquarion with its Corporate Leadership Award “for consistently partnering with environmental groups to improve the quality of water throughout the Housatonic Watershed.” In particular, the HVA cited Aquarion’s role in 2009’s “Safe and Sound” program, in which the company partnered with St. Vincent’s Medical Center of Bridgeport to conduct a collection of expired or unwanted medications from Trumbull and Monroe residents and dispose of them safely.

SEPTEMBER ’10 — Aquarion employees pledged $43,450 in the annual United Way Campaign. The company contributed $60,000, to bring the total amount to more than $100,000.

SEPTEMBER ’10 — Aquarion Water Company participated in the open house for parents at Barnum Elementary School in Bridgeport, distributing biodegradable water bottles and health facts about water. Thirsty, the company’s penguin mascot, entertained the children and signed autographs.

SEPTEMBER ’10 — Eighty Aquarion employees began a three-month fitness challenge sponsored by the Bridgeport Regional Business Council.

AUGUST ’10 — The Aquarion Aid Team, a committee that coordinates employees’ charitable giving, donated money from a summer-long fund-raiser to Operation Hope, Fairfield; Children’s Safe House, Shelton, and the Pajama Program in Bridgeport, which provides new pajamas and a book to disadvantaged children. In addition, the committee used some of the funds to purchase uniforms and backpacks for children at Barnum School in Bridgeport. The donations totaled $1,260.

AUGUST ’10 — Students employed during the summer in Groundworks Bridgeport’s outdoor environmental program learned about invasive species and farming while working in Aspetuck Orchard, across from Aquarion’s Environmental Center in Easton. Once an active orchard open to the public, the land is now leased for farming.

JULY ’10 — Mystic Aquarium and Institute for Exploration opened a new exhibit, “Jellies: The Ocean in Motion,” sponsored in part through a grant from Aquarion Water Company.

JULY ’10 — Eighteen Bridgeport high school students participated in a Water Boot Camp at Aquarion, sponsored by the Connecticut Section of the American Water Works Association (CT AWWA) and funded by a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Over the course of two weeks, the students learned about careers in the water industry through classes conducted by Aquarion and CT AWWA representatives, and also through hands-on practice out in the field.

JULY ’10 — The Aquarion Aid Team, a committee that coordinates employees’ charitable giving, sponsored a fund-raiser that resulted in more than $5,600 for food pantries in the company’s service areas in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

JUNE ’10 — Volunteers from Aquarion Water Company and the Bridgeport Kiwanis Club provided water for marchers in the annual Barnum Festival Parade in Bridgeport. Thirsty, the company’s penguin mascot, was on hand to greet children along the parade route.

JUNE ’10 — Members of Aquarion’s Corporate Contributions Committee attended the state’s annual Memorial to Fallen Heroes, which took place this year at Indian Ledge Park, Trumbull. They brought the company’s water truck and provided water for everyone who had gathered to honor Connecticut soldiers that died in battle the previous year.

JUNE ’10 — Aquarion employee Beverly Doyle graduated from the Bridgeport Regional Business Council’s Leadership Greater Bridgeport program. She subsequently joined Monroe’s Conservation Commission.

JUNE ’10 — Special-needs students from Harding High School, Bridgeport, spent a morning fishing at Aquarion’s Saugatuck reservoir with assistance from the company’s Watershed & Environmental Management office and a volunteer from the state’s CARE program.

JUNE ’10 — More than 100 people came by Trumbull Town Hall to pick up rain barrels they ordered through Aquarion’s second annual promotion. The 55-gallon barrels collect rainwater run-off from roofs and store it for outdoor use, such as watering gardens and washing decks and cars. They save customers money and help reduce the amount of water that runs into communities’ storm drains.

MAY ’10 — Aquarion Water Company received the 2010 Summer Saver Peak Performer Award for reducing its energy consumption by approximately one megawatt during August 2009, at the behest of ISO-New England, the independent operator of the New England electric grid. The award is sponsored by sponsored by the state Office of Policy and Management, the Department of Public Utility Control, and Department of Environmental Protection.

MAY ’10 — Nine employees participated in Alpha Community Services’ “Walk to End Homelessness” around Captain’s Cove, Bridgeport.

MAY ’10 — Aquarion executives met with the Customer Advisory Boards in Fairfield County, Mystic and Litchfield-Simsbury service areas to discuss ongoing programs in the company.

MAY ’10 — Aquarion Water Company Provided drinking water and biodegradable water bottles for the Wilton Go Green Festival. In addition, company mascot Thirsty the penguin spent the day greeting visitors at the event, which took place on the Wilton Green.

APRIL ’10 — Fifteen employees from Aquarion Water Company cleared trails and performed other tasks at Camp Barbour in Norfolk for Earth Day.

APRIL ’10 — Employees at Aquarion Water Company’s Dean’s Mill Water Treatment Plant in Mystic constructed an osprey nesting platform at the edge of the Palmer Reservoir and repaired a butterfly garden enclosure at the Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center for Earth Day.

APRIL ’10 — More than 20 Aquarion Water Company employees spent Earth Day at the Stamford Museum & Nature Center, clearing away brush, spreading grass seed, applying stone dust to pathways, and stacking firewood.

APRIL ’10 — With the opening of fishing season, Aquarion Water Company once again offered free permits for unemployed adults to fish in the company’s Saugatuck, Far Mill and West Pequonnock reservoirs.

APRIL ’10 — Employees from Aquarion Water Company’s Watershed & Environmental Management Department delivered a flowering tree donated by the company to Beardsley School for its garden area.

APRIL ’10 — An Aquarion representative visited a pre-school class at Emmanuel Church in Weston to explain what the children could do to conserve water, and why that is important.

APRIL ’10 — Aquarion Water Company’s President and CEO, Charles V. Firlotte, presented Redding First Selectwoman Natalie Ketcham, with a check for $1,000 to co-sponsor the town’s Earth Day activities.

MARCH ’10 — Aquarion Water Company’s mascot, Thirsty the penguin, led a contingent of employees in Bridgeport’s annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade, to the delight of many families along the parade route.

MARCH ’10 — Eight Aquarion Water Company employees participated in the St. Baldrick’s Day event at the Arena at HarborYard, having their heads shaved and raising approximately $3,000 for research into children’s cancers.

MARCH ’10 — Aquarion Water Company co-sponsored a photo exhibit, The Faces of Homelessness, at the Barnum Museum. The photographs were commissioned by Alpha Community Services.

MARCH ’10 — Representatives from Aquarion Water Company’s Customer Service, Water Quality, and Corporate Communications departments participated in a Fairfield Green Drinks meeting to explain the various aspects of the water quality and delivery systems.

FEBRUARY ’10 — A team of Aquarion employees participated in the annual Great Shehan Spelling Bee in Bridgeport, helping to raise funds for the children’s center.

FEBRUARY ’10 — Aquarion President and CEO Charles V. Firlotte hosted a welcome reception for Junior Achievement of Western CT, which recently moved its offices to the first floor of Aquarion’s headquarters on Main Street, Bridgeport, after the rent on its former office space increased more than JA could afford to pay.

FEBRUARY ’10 — Aquarion Water Company conducted its annual Black History Month Essay Contest in the Bridgeport public school system, choosing Grand Prize winners and runners-up for grades 3-6. Winners received trophies and gift cards to Walden Books.

Aquarion in the Community Archive