The Waterbury Times|Breaking News|July 28, 2026 7:09am

Update Aug 1, 2026 12:31pm

WATERBURY — Water service restoration is underway after Water Department crews and Dayton Construction completed repairs to the second transmission water main break on Tompkins Street early Saturday morning, according to the City of Waterbury.

Officials said the repairs were completed at approximately 1:00 a.m. Saturday, and water is now being gradually reintroduced into the system. Service is expected to return incrementally as pressure rebuilds throughout the distribution network.

Because the restoration process is gradual, some residents and businesses may regain water service before others. Officials said customers may continue to experience low water pressure and temporary water discoloration as the system returns to normal operations.

The city said discolored water is a common occurrence following a major water main break and should improve as crews continue flushing the distribution system.

The Boil Water Notice remains in effect for all affected areas. Residents should continue boiling water used for drinking, cooking, food preparation, and brushing teeth for at least one full minute until the notice is lifted by the Waterbury Health Department.

Water quality testing and system flushing will continue throughout the restoration process. The city said residents will be notified once testing confirms the water system is safe and the advisory has been lifted.

Mayor Paul K. Pernerewski Jr. and Water Superintendent Ramon Esponda provided updates Saturday morning regarding the repairs, restoration process, and next steps.

“Our Water Department crews and Dayton Construction worked around the clock under extremely challenging conditions to complete these repairs, and I want to thank them for their extraordinary dedication,” Mayor Pernerewski said. “While we are encouraged that water is once again moving through the system, we ask residents to remain patient as pressure is restored, the system is flushed, and water quality testing continues.”

The mayor thanked residents and businesses for their patience and cooperation during the emergency.

Water Distribution and Community Resources

Although repairs are complete, the city said it will continue providing resources to affected residents while water service is fully restored.

Bottled Water Distribution

The bottled water distribution site at the Municipal Stadium North Parking Lot, 1200 Watertown Avenue, will remain open:

• Saturday, August 1: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Sunday, August 2: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Residents are encouraged to bring clean buckets or other containers if they need water for non-drinking purposes, including flushing toilets.

Shower Facilities Available

Affected residents may use shower facilities at the following locations:

Jonathan Reed PreK-8 School
33 Griggs Street
Saturday and Sunday: 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Waterbury Career Academy
175 Birch Street
Saturday and Sunday: 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Duggan PreK-8 School
38 West Porter Street
Saturday and Sunday: 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

The city also thanked the Greater Waterbury YMCA for continuing to provide shower access:

Greater Waterbury YMCA
136 West Main Street
Saturday: 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Sunday: 7:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

The City of Waterbury said additional updates will be provided as restoration efforts continue and more information becomes available.

Slug: waterbury-water-main-repairs-completed-service-restoration

Meta Description: Waterbury officials say repairs to the Tompkins Street water main break are complete and water service is gradually being restored. Boil Water Notice remains in effect.

Update July 31, 2026 1:49pm

Waterbury- A boil water notice is now in effect for thousands of Waterbury residents following the ongoing transmission water main break on Tompkins Street.

The City of Waterbury announced Friday that approximately 15,020 homes and businesses remain impacted as Water Department crews and Dayton Construction continue repairs after a second break was discovered during restoration efforts.

Due to the loss of pressure within the water system and the potential risk of contamination, residents in affected areas must boil water used for drinking, cooking, food preparation, and brushing teeth.

What Residents Need to Know

Residents should bring water to a rolling boil for one full minute before using it for:

• Drinking
• Cooking
• Food preparation
• Brushing teeth

The boil water notice will remain in effect until the Water Department determines that water service is safe and lifts the advisory.

Water may still be used for bathing by individuals who do not have open wounds. Residents who are immunocompromised should take additional precautions.

The city advises that babies and individuals who may be immunocompromised use bottled water or boiled and cooled water for bathing. Baby formula should be prepared using bottled water only.

Neighborhoods Impacted

The affected outage area includes previously impacted locations, along with additional neighborhoods:

• Town Plot
• Country Club

Residents and businesses in affected areas should continue monitoring updates from the city as repairs continue.

Bottled Water Distribution Continues

The City of Waterbury will continue operating its bottled water distribution site at:

Municipal Stadium — North Parking Lot
1200 Watertown Avenue

Weekend distribution hours:

Saturday, August 1: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday, August 2: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Residents needing water for non-drinking purposes, including flushing toilets, are encouraged to bring clean containers to the distribution site.

YMCA Provides Shower Access for Residents

The Greater Waterbury YMCA is also providing shower access for residents impacted by the outage.

Weekend shower availability:

Saturday, August 1: 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sunday, August 2: 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The city thanked community partners for assisting residents during the extended outage.

Restaurants Impacted by Boil Water Notice

The Waterbury Health Department reminded residents that restaurants and food service establishments located in affected areas cannot operate during the boil water notice unless they have an approved alternate water source and an approved plan.

Restaurants outside the impacted areas remain open, and residents are encouraged to support businesses that are not affected by the outage.

Repairs Continue

Mayor Paul K. Pernerewski Jr. said city crews and contractors remain focused on completing repairs and restoring service as quickly and safely as possible.

The Waterbury Times will continue monitoring the Tompkins Street water main repair effort and providing updates as additional information becomes available.

Residents should continue following official city updates regarding the boil water notice and restoration timeline.

Waterbury- Waterbury’s ongoing water main emergency took another turn Friday morning after crews discovered a second break while working to restore service following the original transmission main failure on Tompkins Street.

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The City of Waterbury said crews from the Water Department and Dayton Construction completed repairs to the initial damaged section of the transmission main at approximately 1:30 a.m. Friday and began the process of gradually restoring water to the system.

However, as water was being reintroduced, a second section of the transmission main — located about 10 feet from the original repair — developed a break.

Crews immediately shut down valves on Watertown Avenue and began excavating the area to determine the extent of the new damage.

Outage Area Expands to Additional Waterbury Neighborhoods

Because of the second break, the affected outage area has expanded.

Residents and businesses in the Town Plot and Country Club neighborhoods are expected to lose water service as storage tanks continue to drain.

The city said it is currently unable to provide an estimated timeline for when repairs will be completed or when water service will fully return.

Once crews expose the damaged section, officials will determine whether replacement materials already available can be used or whether additional parts will be needed.

Boil Water Advisory Remains in Effect

The existing boil water advisory remains active for previously impacted areas and is expected to expand to include newly affected neighborhoods as service is restored.

Residents in all affected areas should boil water used for:

• Drinking
• Cooking
• Food preparation
• Brushing teeth

The advisory will remain in place until lifted by the Water Department.

Bottled Water Distribution Continues

The City of Waterbury will continue distributing bottled water to affected residents at Municipal Stadium’s North Parking Lot, located at 1200 Watertown Avenue.

Distribution hours Friday are scheduled from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Residents in newly affected areas are also encouraged to use the distribution site if they lose water service.

Mayor Responds to Second Break

Mayor Paul K. Pernerewski Jr. acknowledged the

Update July 30, 2026 11:42pm

WATERBURY — Repairs to the broken transmission water main on Tompkins Street are moving into the final stages, with city officials saying water service could begin returning to affected areas after midnight Thursday.

The City of Waterbury announced that specialized replacement parts needed for the repair have arrived and are being installed by Dayton Construction and Water Department crews.

Officials cautioned that restoration will not happen all at once. As the system is brought back online, water pressure will gradually rebuild throughout the affected areas, meaning some residents may see service return before others.

Although recent water samples have produced favorable results, the city is keeping a precautionary boil water advisoryin place for residents impacted by the outage.

Residents are advised to boil water for several minutes before using it for:

• drinking,
• brushing teeth,
• cooking.

Water officials said additional testing will continue Friday and Saturday while crews flush the system. The advisory will remain until the city confirms the water supply is safe for normal use.

Residents in Watertown may also notice temporary water discoloration as their system continues supporting increased demand from higher elevation areas affected by the outage. Officials said discoloration can occur after major water main repairs and should improve as the system is flushed.

The city continues distributing bottled water at the Municipal Stadium North Parking Lot, 1200 Watertown Avenue. Distribution will continue Thursday until 7 p.m. and resume Friday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

According to the city, more than 1,500 cases of bottled water have already been distributed to residents without water service.

Mayor Paul K. Pernerewski Jr. thanked residents, businesses, city employees, Water Department crews, and Dayton Construction for their response.

“Our crews have worked tirelessly around the clock to complete this repair as safely and efficiently as possible,” Pernerewski said.

The city said additional updates will be released as repairs progress and the boil water advisory status changes.

Updated July 28, 2026 8:55am

WATERBURY, CT — Approximately 5,100 homes and businesses are expected to lose water service Tuesday evening following a major water main break on Tompkins Street near Kaynor Technical High School, according to the City of Waterbury.

Water Department crews have been working at the site since the break was reported around 4:45 a.m. Tuesday, alongside Dayton Construction, preparing for repairs.

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City officials said water can no longer replenish the Clough Road storage tank because of the break. Once the remaining water in the tank is depleted, customers supplied by that tank will lose service until repairs are completed.

Affected residents and businesses have been notified through the city’s Alert Waterbury Reverse 911 system.

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During excavation, crews determined the failure occurred at a bend in the transmission main, requiring a specialized fitting that is not typically kept in stock because of its uncommon configuration.

The replacement parts are expected to begin arriving Wednesday and continue into Thursday morning. Crews are preparing the site now so repairs can begin immediately once the materials arrive.

Officials said, if repairs proceed as planned, water service could be restored as early as Thursday evening, with work expected to be completed before the weekend.

Waterbury Hospital is not expected to lose water service, though hospital officials have contingency measures in place should conditions change.

“After crews exposed the damaged section of the transmission main, it became clear this repair would require a specialized fitting because of the location of the break,” Mayor Paul K. Pernerewski, Jr. said. “Our Water Department crews and Dayton Construction have been working since early this morning to prepare the site so repairs can begin the moment the replacement parts arrive.”

The mayor added that the city understands the impact the outage will have on residents and businesses and thanked the public for their patience.

Once service is restored, all affected properties will be placed under a boil water advisory as a standard public health precaution following a loss of water pressure. The advisory will remain in effect until required testing confirms the water is safe for normal use.

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Restaurants and other food service establishments affected by the outage should not reopen until the boil water advisory has been lifted or an approved alternative water source has been obtained.

The City said additional updates, including repair progress and information on lifting the boil water advisory, will be provided through Alert Waterbury, the city website, and official social media channels.

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Updated July 28, 2026- 2:08pm

Waterbury Officials to Provide Update on Major Water Main Break Affecting Several Neighborhoods

WATERBURY, CT — The City of Waterbury will provide an update Tuesday afternoon on a significant water main break that has disrupted water service across parts of the city.

Mayor Paul K. Pernerewski, Jr. and Water Superintendent Ray Esponda are scheduled to hold a press conference at 4 p.m. Tuesday, July 28, near the site of the break on Tompkins Street.

Officials are expected to discuss ongoing repair efforts, impacts to water service, and the city’s response following the early morning emergency.

Water Department crews responded to the break at approximately 4:45 a.m. and have remained on scene assessing the damage and working to restore service.

The break has affected residents in the Bunker Hill, Town Plot, and Country Club neighborhoods, with reports of low water pressure and temporary loss of service.

Waterbury Hospital was also impacted and transitioned to its secondary water supply as a precaution to ensure uninterrupted patient care.

“Our crews have been working tirelessly since the early morning hours to assess the damage and restore service as quickly and safely as possible,” Mayor Pernerewski said. “This afternoon, we will provide the public with the latest information on repair efforts, expected timelines, and what residents can expect moving forward.”

The city said additional updates will be released as more information becomes available. Residents are encouraged to monitor Alert Waterbury, the city’s social media platforms, and the official city website for updates.

Once repairs are completed, the Water Department will conduct required water quality testing before returning the system to normal operation.

Officials said that if a boil water advisory becomes necessary, affected residents will be notified immediately through Alert Waterbury and other official communication channels.

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WATERBURY, CT — A major water main break reported early Tuesday morning is impacting water service across several Waterbury neighborhoods as city crews work to assess damage and make repairs.

The break was reported at approximately 4:45 a.m. on Tompkins Street near W.F. Kaynor Technical High School.

Water Department crews are currently on scene evaluating the damage and beginning repair efforts. Due to the location of the break, power has been shut down at Kaynor Technical High School.

The city said the break is expected to affect water service in the Bunker Hill, Town Plot, and Country Club neighborhoods. Residents in those areas may experience reduced water pressure, and some customers may temporarily lose water service while portions of the system are isolated for repairs.

Waterbury Hospital has been notified and has begun transitioning to its secondary water supply as a precaution to ensure continuity of patient care.

“Our crews were on scene shortly after the break was reported and have been working since the early morning hours to assess the damage and begin repairs,” Mayor Paul K. Pernerewski Jr. said. “We know this disruption will have a significant impact on many residents and businesses, and we appreciate everyone’s patience as this work continues.”

The mayor said restoring water service safely and as quickly as possible remains the city’s top priority.

The city will continue monitoring the situation and will provide updates as more information becomes available, including repair timelines and additional service impacts.

Residents are encouraged to monitor official city communication channels, including Alert Waterbury, for updates.

Following completion of repairs, the Water Department will conduct required water quality testing before returning the system to normal operation. If a boil water advisory becomes necessary, affected customers will be notified.

The Waterbury Times will continue following this developing situation and provide updates as they become available.