URGENT WATER EMERGENCY UPDATE

For Immediate Release – December 13, 2025

Contact:

Jennifer Rose

Press Secretary, Office of Mayor Paul K. Pernerewski, Jr.

Email: Jrose@waterburyct.org

EMERGENCY AND CRITICAL UPDATE: Since the initial advisory, the city s high-pressure water main has failed. As a result, the majority of Waterbury and neighboring towns of Wolcott and Watertown will experience a loss of water supply while crews work to make emergency repairs.

City officials, including Mayor Pernerewski and Water Superintendent Brad Malay, are on site coordinating response efforts. Residents are advised to conserve any remaining water and follow updates from the city s official channels.

Additional details regarding the estimated duration of the outage and locations receiving emergency water services will be provided as soon as available.

City of Waterbury Issues Critical Update on Thomaston Avenue Water Main Break

(Waterbury, CT) The City of Waterbury is issuing an urgent update regarding the water main break near Thomaston Avenue. While crews were actively working to repair the initial break, they were unable to fully contain the damage. As a result, the 36-inch transmission main, which is a very old section of pipe, failed.

Any residents or businesses serviced by this 36-inch main will experience a loss of water service until repairs are completed. The impacted area is still being determined, and a service area map is being developed and will be released as soon as it becomes available. The affected area is expected to include low lying neighborhoods along the Naugatuck River as far east as Hamilton Park, including much of the downtown area.

The length of time required to complete the repair is not yet known. Crews remain on site and are working to assess the damage and determine the safest and fastest path forward for restoration.

Mayor Paul K. Pernerewski, Jr. is on scene overseeing the City s response.

This is a serious infrastructure failure, and our priority is protecting public health and safety while restoring service as quickly as possible, said Mayor Pernerewski. City departments are working together around the clock, and we will continue to keep the public informed as more details become available.

Water Superintendent Brad Malay is on scene directing repair efforts.

Once the 36-inch main failed, the situation escalated quickly, said Superintendent Malay. Our crews are assessing the damage and determining the safest repair method. We are fully focused on stabilizing the system and moving toward restoration.

Hospitals and Critical Facilities
The city is coordinating closely with local hospitals and other critical facilities. If water service is disrupted, water trucks will be deployed to ensure continued operations and patient care.

Fire Protection and Emergency Response
The city is coordinating with the Water Department and Fire Department to maintain emergency response capabilities. Mutual aid agreements are in place, and surrounding communities are prepared to assist with fire response if needed.

Boil Water Advisory
Any customer who experiences a loss of water service or a significant reduction in water pressure will be placed under a boil water advisory once service is restored. Additional instructions regarding the advisory will be issued when restoration begins.

The city recognizes the seriousness of this situation and the impact on residents, businesses, and essential services. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available. The city appreciates the public s patience and cooperation as crews work to resolve this critical infrastructure failure.

###