Eric W. Thornburg to Lead Connecticut Water Company
Places emphasis on industry-wide collaboration, customer service

CLINTON, CONNECTICUT – March 22, 2006 – Eric W. Thornburg joined Connecticut Water Service, Inc. (NASDAQ:CTWS) this month as its new president and chief executive officer after spending four years as president of Missouri American Water, a subsidiary of American Water Works Corporation. He also led all Government and Regulatory Affairs for American Water’s Central Region, which spans 15 mid-west states. He succeeded Marshall T. Chiaraluce, who remains Connecticut Water’s chairman until he retires from the company and its board of directors in spring 2007.

Thornburg started as a management trainee with Pennsylvania American Water in 1982 and has spent his entire career in the water utility industry. He gained a deep understanding of all aspects of water utility operations and management throughout his career with American Water and has held various Operations and Management positions overseeing engineering, water quality, maintenance services and communication, before being promoted to vice president, Operations at Indiana American Water in 1993. In 2000, he became president and chairman of Missouri American Water where he managed all aspects of the financial and operational performance of the state’s largest water service corporation. Thornburg has a Bachelor’s degree from Cornell University and an MBA from Indiana Wesleyan University.

During his first few days at Connecticut Water, Thornburg traveled to all regions of the company to meet the employees and said he wasn’t surprised to see their enthusiasm and commitment to customers. “There is something special about the people in our business,” said Thornburg. “They have a deep desire to serve, not only their customers, but also their colleagues.”

One area that Thornburg said he feels strongly about is building relationships and collaborating with all stakeholders involved with water resources – because water utilities provide an essential public service. “We all benefit as a society when we work together to ensure our customers receive high-quality and reliable water service.”

Connecticut Water scored the best among the largest water utilities rated in the Connecticut Department of Public Utility Control’s 2005 Consumer Complaint Scorecard and Thornburg said the company will continue to focus on customer service. We will continually strive to improve customer satisfaction and work hard to meet our customers’ needs,” he said.

Thornburg said Connecticut Water will also continue to place emphasis on environmental and water quality compliance issues under his leadership. “We will remain committed to always doing what’s right and being stewards of the environment,” said Thornburg. The company has significant landholdings and other programs to provide for source water protection. Additionally, the company performs more than 150,000 water quality tests annually – an average of 400 tests a day. “We enhance our customers’ quality of life and are dedicated to meeting their high expectations.”

# # #

Connecticut Water serves more than 81,000 customers, or more than 286,000 people, in 41 Connecticut towns through its Connecticut Water Co., Crystal Water Co., and Unionville Water Co. subsidiaries.