Connecticut Water installs more than 20 miles of water main in 2025

CLINTON, Conn., Jan. 5, 2026 —Connecticut Water installed more than 20 miles of water main in 2025 as part of ongoing efforts to increase service reliability, address aging infrastructure and improve water quality so customers continue to receive high-quality water meeting all state and federal guidelines well into the future. 

From engineers to field service representatives– Connecticut Water’s team of water experts continued to address aging infrastructure, a challenge for water systems throughout the country. Connecticut Water replaces about 1% of its water main each year.

"As a water utility, our customers rely on us to deliver a life-sustaining resource to their homes. Proactively replacing aging water mains is a critical part of providing reliable water service to our customers," said David Peeling, P.E., vice president of operations and engineering at Connecticut Water. "We’re building for the future. The work our water professionals do now will make a lasting impact on our communities today and for generations to come."

Of the 20 miles of pipe installed in 2025, Connecticut Water proactively replaced nearly 18 miles of water main through the Water Infrastructure and Conservation Adjustment (WICA) program as part of ongoing efforts to maintain reliability and quality for our customers.

This included 35 projects across 15 towns in 2025 at a cost of about $48 million. Some of the pipes replaced were more than 100 years old. Many water main projects also include replacing or adding fire hydrants for improved fire protection. 

Connecticut Water maintains an Asset Management Plan for the nearly 1,800 miles of water main in our distribution system. Infrastructure experts track the age and condition of water pipes, frequency of breaks, leakages and lost water, and also consider the fire protection needs of the community in determining what water mains to replace. The company also coordinates with municipalities on projects (like road paving) for cost savings and commuter convenience opportunities that can save dollars and hassle for both customers and taxpayers when main replacement and road paving are combined into a single project. 

Replacing aging or under-sized water mains before they become a problem means the company’s water professionals can complete the work under more controlled conditions, allows better planning for service needs rather and avoids making costly repairs in an emergency situation. 

2025 Projects of note include:

• Began a multi-year project to replace approximately 40,000 feet of transmission and intake water mains along New Haven Road in Naugatuck, some of which dates back to about 1890.
• Installed almost 9,300 feet of 12-inch water main along Route 12 to connect our Killingly and Plainfield systems to allow water supply optimization and improving system reliability for customers.   This pipeline will be put into service in 2026.
•  Replaced 3,000 feet of water main as part of a multi-year project that also included building a new water tank and pump station to improve water quality, system reliability and fire protection to the Anvil Drive area of Avon.
• Replaced more than 6,400 feet of the Miami Beach Distribution System in Old Lyme.