The significant failure of a high-pressure water line in Waterbury has left the fifth largest city in Connecticut, along with nearby suburbs Wolcott and Watertown, without reliable access to water since Saturday. The incident occurred following the prior breakdown of an old 10-inch water line from 1901, which compromised a nearby 42-inch transmission main that catastrophically burst on Friday night. The explosion propelled pavement into the air and broke windows near Waterville Park.
City officials and engineers are still assessing the extent of the damage, yet the situation has prompted an urgent response from city and state agencies, including assistance from the National Guard and the state Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security. Schools in Waterbury were closed on Monday, and local restaurants were ordered to shut down as well. Fire hydrants became inoperative, and taps in some areas with limited pressure dispensed unsafe water unless boiled.
In response, plans created during the COVID-19 pandemic were activated to distribute clean water at designated locations starting Sunday. Governor Ned Lamont announced the availability of bottled water at Municipal Stadium on Watertown Avenue and Crosby High School on Pierpont Road, available from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. or until supplies ran out.
The failure’s unprecedented impact is compounded by years of infrastructure neglect, highlighting the city’s delayed upgrades. A secondary high-pressure main, essential for maintaining service, was offline for reinforcement. City water superintendent Brad Malay had planned to complete pressure tests on this main on the following Monday, but the current circumstances have rendered those efforts irrelevant.
The ruptured line was one of two high-pressure pipes supplying the system from a city-owned treatment plant located several miles away in Thomaston. The failure of the old line directly contributed to the mishap of the newer pipe, which had remained intact until the earlier incident washed out the other main. The age and fragility of these pipes significantly contributed to the disaster, which officials now recognize as a critical issue within the city’s water infrastructure.
Compounding the challenges, valves that could potentially isolate breaks were found to be brittle and inoperable, exacerbating the situation. Mayor Paul K. Pernerewski Jr. voiced his frustration regarding the state of these valves, noting their difficulty in being exercised for maintenance due to their fragile condition. Meanwhile, Malay has implemented a routine testing procedure for newer valves but acknowledged the risks tied to older infrastructure.
Waterbury, which faced financial difficulties leading to state oversight over two decades ago, is currently undertaking a $30 million initiative to bolster its water system, originally designed to serve a once-thriving brass manufacturing industry. However, the city’s efforts to repair and upgrade the water lines must be conducted section by section to prevent total system shutdowns.
Despite the unfortunate timing of this water line break, as a vital backup was under repairs, city officials remain committed to addressing the wider issues in the water infrastructure. They understand that continual maintenance and proactive upgrades are crucial to avert future crises that impact the residents and essential services.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the aging infrastructure facing many cities, highlighting the importance of investment and timely updates to public utility systems to protect communities.