More than 15,000 residents and businesses in Waterbury are expected to be without water service until repairs to a second water main break are completed, according to the mayor's office.
Crews are working to repair the break on Tompkins Street after a break on the same street earlier this week left thousands without water for days. Approximately 15,020 homes and businesses remained impacted as of 11:30 a.m. on Friday.
According to Waterbury Mayor Paul Pernerewski, a leak close to where the initial break was reported on Tuesday occurred early Friday morning, just after crews had repaired the first one. Pernerewski's office said that repairs on the first break were completed at 1:30 a.m. on Friday.
“We were in the process of repressurizing the line, trying to bring the water back into the system and fill the tanks,“ said Pernerewski. “About 3:15 this morning, 14 to 16 feet down from the break that happened a couple of days ago, there was another break. So, at this point we have once again shut down the water to this part of the line.”
A boil water notice is in effect due to the potential for contamination and loss of pressure in the system.
Officials said the needed parts are local and that they expect fixes to be completed this weekend.
If you live in an affected area, you should boil water intended for drinking, cooking, food preparation, or brushing your teeth until the notice has been lifted, the city said. Boiling the water will kill any potential harmful bacteria.
The water can be used for bathing if you do not have open wounds. Babies and people who are immunocompromised should use baby wipes or a clean washcloth with bottled water or boiled, then cooled water.
Crews from the Waterbury Water Department and Dayton Construction immediately shut down valves on Watertown Avenue to stop the flow of water and started excavating the area to assess the damage, according to Pernerewski.
Residents and businesses in the Tompkins Street area, Town Plot neighborhood, and Country Club neighborhood have all lost water service.
Pernerewski said he understands residents’ frustrations with the recent shortcomings with the city’s infrastructure.
In December 2025, the city experienced the worst water main break in its history when a 120-year-old pipe failed, creating a massive water main break. Nearly 100,000 residents were without water for days. National Guard tankers had to be deployed.
“I'm going to ask that people be patient, said Pernerewski. “I know it's very, very frustrating to wake up this morning expecting that the water was going to be back on. I'm in the same position.”
It is also issuing an Alert Waterbury emergency notification through its reverse 911 system to impacted residents and businesses. If you live in the area and have not signed up for Alert Waterbury, the city encourages you to enroll at waterburyct.org/alerts to receive emergency notifications by phone, text message, and email.
The city will also continue distributing bottled water to affected residents at Municipal Stadium on Friday from 3 to 7 p.m., Saturday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The city is encouraging people to eat at restaurants outside the affected neighborhoods because not all restaurants may operate under the boil water notice.
The city is offering places for people to shower if they need to, including: