Aquarion Water Company is donating a piece of property to the Town of Bethel. 

There is an old decommissioned well at 5 Old Turnpike Road, no longer in use.  First Selectman Matt Knickerbocker says the idea was presented several months ago, but they had to wait for this formal agreement to come through.  It will go through a formal process with PURA, the state Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, as well.  It could take until next September before the company actually turns over the land. 

The property will be used for passive open space use as a place for people to walk and have picnics. The well used to provide water to the Meckauer Circle Water Company, which was formed when the neighborhood was construction 30 to 35 years ago.  The system was purchased by Aquarion 7 or 8 years ago. 

Knickerbocker says there were some real issues with the Meckauer operation so Aquarion connected it to their overall distribution system at the north end of Bethel and Newtown.  The well was then capped.