Lake Whitney (Connecticut) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Whitney |
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Lake Whitney
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 Lake Whitney
Location in Connecticut
Lake Whitney
Location in the United States
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| Location | Hamden, Connecticut |
| Coordinates | 41°21′07″N 72°54′40″W / 41.352°N 72.911°W |
| Type | Reservoir |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface elevation | 33 ft (10 m) |
Lake Whitney is a beautiful lake located in Hamden, Connecticut. It's an important part of the Mill River system. For many years, this lake was a main source of drinking water for the nearby city of New Haven, Connecticut.
In the early 1990s, Lake Whitney stopped being used as a primary water source. However, things changed recently! A brand new water treatment plant was built. This plant can clean up to 15 million gallons of water every day. Because of this new facility, Lake Whitney is now connected again. It serves as a backup water source for the South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority.
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Why Lake Whitney is Important
Lake Whitney plays a big role in providing water for many homes and businesses. It acts like a giant storage tank for water. This water can be used when other sources are low.
A Vital Water Supply
For a long time, Lake Whitney helped supply fresh water to the New Haven area. Even though it stopped being the main source for a while, its importance is growing again. The new water treatment plant makes sure the water is clean and safe to drink. This means Lake Whitney can help meet the water needs of the community, especially during dry times.
Working with the Community
When the plan to use Lake Whitney as a water source again was announced, some people in the community had questions. They were worried about how taking water from the lake might affect the flow of water over the waterfall into the Mill River.
To address these concerns, the regional water authority made some promises:
- They agreed to take only the amount of water that is truly needed.
- They will change how much water they take depending on the season. This helps protect the river's natural flow.
- A special pump has been installed. This pump makes sure that water always flows over the dam, keeping the waterfall active.
Helping Fish Travel
To help local wildlife, the water authority is also building a fish ladder. This is like a set of steps or ramps that fish can use to swim past the dam. It allows them to travel upriver to different parts of the Mill River. This is great news for fish and the river's ecosystem!
