Water Crisis in Waterbury, CT: Boil Water Order, School Closures, and Hospital Impacts – A Complete Update (December 14, 2024)
A widespread water outage and mandatory boil water order are in effect for the majority of Waterbury, Connecticut, following a catastrophic failure of a high-pressure water main late Friday night. The situation extends beyond city limits, impacting parts of Watertown, wolcott, and Prospect, and is creating significant challenges for residents, businesses, and critical infrastructure like local hospitals. This article provides a comprehensive update on the crisis, including the cause, affected areas, safety guidelines, resource availability, and what to expect in the coming days.
What Happened?
The current crisis stems from a failure of a 36-inch transmission main on Thomaston Avenue.This occurred while crews were already working to repair a separate water main break in the same area, initially reported on Wednesday. The subsequent failure dramatically escalated the situation, cutting off water service to a vast portion of Waterbury and triggering the city-wide boil water order. According to Mayor Paul Pernerewski, the scale of the disruption is substantial, impacting both residential and commercial properties.
Which Areas Are Affected?
* Waterbury: The majority of the city is currently without water service.
* Watertown: Portions of Watertown are experiencing reduced water pressure or complete outages.
* Wolcott: Specific areas within Wolcott are affected, though the extent is still being assessed.
* Prospect: Residents in parts of Prospect are also reporting water service disruptions.
The city is working to establish a more granular map of affected areas, but residents in all four municipalities should assume their water is unsafe for consumption until further notice.
Boil Water Order: Protecting Your Health
The boil water order is a critical public health measure. The failure of the water main creates a risk of contamination, and consuming untreated water can lead to illness.Here’s what you must do:
* Boil water for 8 Minutes: Before using water for drinking, cooking, brushing teeth, or preparing baby formula, bring it to a rolling boil for at least one minute (longer at higher altitudes). Let it cool before use.
* Use Bottled water: If boiling isn’t possible, use commercially bottled water.
* Dishwashing: Wash dishes wiht boiled water or use a dishwasher with a sanitizing cycle.
* Avoid Ice: Do not use ice made from tap water.
* Pet Consumption: Offer pets bottled or boiled water.
Recent Research on Water Main Break Impacts: A 2023 study by the American Society of Civil Engineers (https://www.asce.org/) highlighted the increasing frequency of water main breaks due to aging infrastructure and climate change-related ground shifts. The study estimates that the US loses approximately 6 billion gallons of treated water daily due to leaks in aging water systems. This incident in Waterbury underscores the urgent need for infrastructure investment.
Impact on Hospitals and Emergency Services
The water outage is severely impacting local healthcare facilities:
* Waterbury Hospital: Initially relying on reserve water tanks,the hospital is now experiencing depletion of those reserves.A tanker truck delivering potable water is currently on-site.
* Saint Mary’s Hospital: Entirely without water, Saint Mary’s is diverting patients to other hospitals while awaiting a water supply. A statement released by the hospital confirms the activation of their emergency management plan and the deployment of portable sinks and water supplies to maintain critical operations. The hospital reports maintaining water pressure for essential infrastructure like boilers.
The city is prioritizing the delivery of potable water to both hospitals to ensure continued patient care.
Resources Available to Residents
The City of Waterbury is actively working to provide resources to affected residents:
* Bottled Water Distribution: Four truckloads of bottled water have already arrived and are being distributed at Municipal Stadium (1200 Watertown Avenue).
* Additional Supply: An additional ten truckloads of bottled water are en route from Pennsylvania and will be split between Municipal Stadium and Crosby High School upon arrival.
* Updates: stay informed through the City of Waterbury’s official website (https://www.waterburyct.org/) and local news channels.
School Closure & future Repairs
Due to the uncertainty surrounding the repair timeline, Mayor Pernerewski has announced the cancellation of school for Monday, December 16th. Crews have not yet been
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