SOUTHBURY, Conn., Aug. 14, 2025 — Connecticut Water recently brought a 12-inch water main in Southbury back into service, the last of major repairs related to restoration efforts after the 1,000-year rainstorm pummeled the Naugatuck Valley region last August.
Raging floodwaters washed away portions of Old Field Road in Southbury and the water main during the Aug. 18, 2024 storm. Due to the extent of the damage in that area, restoration efforts included coordination with the town, which continues work to repair the roadway. While the system could continue to provide drinking water service to customers in the area, the large, 12-inch main contributed to fire protection needs of Southbury.
“When faced with an unprecedented and extreme weather event, our team of water professionals demonstrated extraordinary commitment to the communities we serve, using their experience and expertise to keep water flowing,” said Connecticut Water President Craig Patla.
As the storm ramped up, the Connecticut Water team in Southbury, Oxford and Naugatuck, sprang into action. Within just a few hours, conditions deteriorated rapidly from a normal day to an emergency. By early evening, our water professionals and our safety team responded to assess damage, make repairs where they could safely do so, line up contractors to support repair and cleanup efforts, and coordinate with town officials.
Responding proved challenging. Roads washed away, trees down, cars strewn about by floodwaters all contributed to the challenges. Town officials coordinated with a variety of responding agencies – letting crews know roads that were passable, where equipment could get set up and where priorities were.
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August 2025 |
Extreme flooding of the Pomperaug River required two wells at Heritage Village in Southbury to be temporarily taken offline as floodwaters encroached. The wells were brought back online after water quality testing confirmed that no contamination was present.
Flooding washed out a portion of Old Waterbury Road in Southbury, triggering severe erosion near a newly constructed booster station at the bottom of a slope next to the road — exposing newly installed water mains, burying fire hydrants under sediment and causing sediment to build up against the building. Connecticut Water construction crews and contractors worked to stabilize the slope, rebuild a perimeter fence and clean up the site.
In the Heritage Village water system, floodwaters washed out a footbridge that also housed a concrete sewer line, leaving about 70 feet of sewer line suspended in the air. The Connecticut Water facilities team moved in after floodwaters receded to make temporary repairs and stabilize the line while the engineering team designed a permanent replacement and fortification. The project included pouring concrete piers and mounting steel beams to hold a replacement sewer line.
Crews also responded to repair a main break on Strongtown Road in Southbury in the immediate aftermath of the storm.
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August 2025 |
Response like this, limiting the impact such a severe storm had on customers, is the result of a great deal of planning and continued investment in drinking water infrastructure. To best prepare for disasters, teams must be trained regularly and equipment, water mains, wells and other infrastructure must be regularly maintained and replaced. In 2025, Connecticut Water expects to invest $75 million on water treatment, storage and distribution infrastructure across the state to improve quality and reliability for customers.
