A water service restoration is now in effect for all Waterbury residents, as the city continues to recover from a major water main break that disrupted supply for days.
Water began flowing again for thousands of customers Tuesday night, though the flow remained gradual to prevent further damage to the system. On Wednesday morning, Mayor Paul Pernerewski announced that every resident should have running water restored.
If you still don’t have water at home, officials say an air lock in the system is the most likely cause.
Despite the return of running water, a boil-water advisory remains in place. Residents may shower and flush toilets, but must boil any water intended for drinking.
As a precaution, schools in the city stayed closed on Wednesday.
By Monday afternoon, approximately 40 percent of Waterbury’s residents had their water restored, primarily on the west side. City officials had previously estimated that most residents would have water within a matter of hours after Tuesday morning updates.
The city planned to collect water samples on Wednesday to determine if the water is safe to drink without boiling, with results expected on Thursday.
For residents still in need of clean drinking water, the city announced free bottled water distribution at Municipal Stadium beginning at 9 a.m. on Wednesday.
Officials emphasized that while restoring full water service is a priority, the process cannot be rushed if doing so could cause more damage or compromise safety.
Mayor Pernerewski said he would discuss the crisis on WATR radio on Wednesday morning, accompanied by the water superintendent, the health director, and representatives from the fire and police departments. A news conference was also planned for later Wednesday.
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