CONNECTICUT WATER SERVICE, INC., REPORTS FIRST QUARTER 2006 EARNINGS

          Clinton, Connecticut, May 10, 2006 – Connecticut Water Service, Inc. (NASDAQ: CTWS) announced that its Net Income from Continuing Operations for the first quarter of 2006 was $1.7 million or $0.21 per basic common share. Compared to the same period in 2005 this is a decrease of $300,000, or $0.04 per basic common share. Connecticut Water Service, Inc., New England’s largest domestically based investor owned water company, provides drinking water to 41 towns and over 81,000 customers throughout Connecticut through its wholly owned public water utility subsidiaries.

The Company realized an increase in Net Income of approximately $700,000 from the Real Estate segment, attributable mainly to the completion of the BARLACO land sale to the Town of Barnstable in February 2006. Higher Net Income from the Real Estate segment partially offset the anticipated decline in Net Income from the Water Activities segment.

The reduction in Water Activities Net Income in the first-quarter is due in large part to increased Operation and Maintenance expenses associated with power, labor and benefits costs. Other factors include a decline in Operating Revenues from lower residential water consumption and interest expense increases associated with two debt issuances during 2005.

Eric Thornburg, President and Chief Executive Officer, said “We anticipated the reduction in Net Income from Water Activities and, as stated in our Form 10-K filing with SEC, are planning to seek rate relief in 2006. Our rate case team is well qualified and is actively assembling a filing for our regulators demonstrating the need for increased rates that we believe will be compelling.”

This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements regarding the Company's results of operations and financial position. These forward-looking statements are based on current information and expectations, and are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from expected results.

Our water companies are subject to various federal and state regulatory agencies concerning water quality and environmental standards. Generally, the water industry is materially dependent on the adequacy of approved rates to allow for a fair rate of return on the investment in utility plant. The ability to maintain our operating costs at the lowest possible level while providing good quality water service is beneficial to customers and stockholders. Profitability is also dependent on the timeliness of rate relief, to be sought from, and granted by, the DPUC, when necessary, and numerous factors over which we have little or no control, such as the quantity of rainfall and temperature, industrial demand, financing costs, energy rates, tax rates, and stock market trends which may affect the return earned on pension assets, and compliance with environmental and water quality regulations. The profitability of our other revenue sources is subject to the amount of land we have available for sale and/or donation, the demand for the land, the continuation of the current state tax benefits relating to the donation of land for open space purposes, regulatory approval of land dispositions, the demand for telecommunications antenna site leases and the successful extensions and expansion of our service contract work. We undertake no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Connecticut Water Service, Inc. & Subsidiaries