City of Waterbury Provides Update on Huntingdon Avenue Water Main Repairs

 
The City of Waterbury has stopped the leak on Huntingdon Avenue that began late in the afternoon on September 24. The break, which involved one of the city’s largest and oldest high-pressure mains, caused an air relief valve to blow off, sending water more than 40 feet into the air and flooding the surrounding area. A full replacement of the valve, along with other critical infrastructure upgrades, will be completed in the coming weeks after the Thomaston Avenue main is back online to ensure additional service loss is avoided.

The impacted section of the main is part of Waterbury’s core water infrastructure, much of which dates back 80 to 130 years. The age and size of the water main made this repair particularly challenging, as crews had to manage system pressure while ensuring safe working conditions.

On Sunday, approximately 1,500 homes and businesses experienced either a loss of water service or reduced pressure, prompting the City to issue a Boil Water Advisory for these customers as a precaution. Crews installed new valves that successfully stopped the flow of water to the damaged section, which will allow final repairs to proceed without additional service interruptions.

Water testing to lift the Boil Water Advisory will take place on Tuesday morning. The tests take 24 hours to process, and results are expected Wednesday morning. Once testing confirms that the water meets all state and federal safety standards, the City will immediately notify the public that the advisory has been lifted.

Huntingdon Avenue will remain closed while final repairs to the line are completed, bypass pipes are removed and the 300 feet of excavated roadway is repaired. The City is hopeful that the roadway will reopen early next week.

Superintendent of Water Bradley Malay stated, “This was one of the most technically difficult repairs our department has faced in recent years. Our crews, along with Rangeline, Dayton Construction, and support from the Department of Public Works and other city divisions, worked around the clock to safely stabilize the system and complete this critical phase of the project.” Malay continued, “I also want to thank Mayor Pernerewski and his staff for their ongoing support, and the Waterbury Police Department for helping manage traffic and ensure safety at the site.”

Mayor Paul K. Pernerewski, Jr., expressed gratitude to the community and all involved in the repair effort. “I want to sincerely thank our residents and business owners for their patience and understanding as we worked through these difficult and unexpected challenges,” said Mayor Pernerewski. “This repair demanded expertise, teamwork, and perseverance. I’m deeply grateful to Superintendent Malay, the Bureau of Water, Rangeline, Dayton Construction, and all city departments who worked long hours to protect our residents and restore service as quickly as possible.”

The City of Waterbury will issue another update once water testing results are available and the Boil Water Advisory can be officially lifted.