Water restored to thousands in Waterbury after second main break in four days

WATERBURY, Conn. (WFSB) — Water is being restored to more than 15,000 Waterbury residents after welders repaired a burst water main on Tompkins Street early Saturday morning. This is the second break on that street in four days.

John Zaccagnini, one of the thousands who lost water service, said he noticed the change when he woke up Saturday.

“Relieved. I got up this morning and I noticed that the water pressure and water was turned back on,” Zaccagnini said.

Lifelong resident Hena Croce said the water quality is still a concern.

“The water is still brown, but I don’t even want to boil it at this point,” Croce said.

Mayor Paul K. Pernerewski Jr. acknowledged that water main breaks are an ongoing problem in the city, noting that some infrastructure is more than 100 years old and requires updates and upgrades.

“But I’m going to warn everyone again. This is not something that is going to be fixed overnight,” Pernerewski said.

Croce echoed the need for a lasting solution.

“It really needs to get fixed the right way so it doesn’t happen again,” she said.