Waterbury has lifted its citywide boil water advisory after nearly a week, Mayor Paul Pernerewski announced on Thursday afternoon.
The mayor said residents can resume normal use of tap water for drinking, cooking and all household purposes. The advisory was put into place following a massive water main break on Friday night.
“The scope and complexity of this incident required extensive repairs, careful system restoration, and testing to ensure the safety and reliability of Waterbury’s water supply,” Waterbury officials said in a news release.
Waterbury officials notified the public shortly after 4 p.m. on Thursday that “all water quality samples collected from 22 locations across the distribution system tested negative for total coliform and E. coli bacteria.”
Water samples were collected and sent to a state-certified laboratory for testing on Wednesday and returned on Thursday afternoon. The water was tested for bacteria and to make sure it is safe for consumption. According to Waterbury officials, the test results met all state and federal drinking water standards. The full laboratory test results will be uploaded and made available for public review at www.waterburyct.org.
“This announcement brings to a close a very difficult chapter for our city, especially during what should have been a time of family, tradition, and preparation for the holidays,” Pernerewski said in the release. “I want to thank our residents and businesses for their patience, resilience and compassion for one another. Neighbors checked on neighbors, shared resources, and stepped up when it mattered most.
“I am also deeply grateful to our water department crews and the city staff who worked around the clock, in freezing temperatures and under extraordinary pressure, to restore water service safely to every corner of Waterbury,” Pernerewski added.
“This moment reflects the strength of our community and the dedication of the men and women who serve it. Ending this advisory marks the final step in an emergency response that began nine days ago and restores a sense of normalcy as our city moves forward together,” Pernerewski said.
City officials will continue to review system performance, document lessons learned and advance infrastructure planning efforts to strengthen reliability and resilience moving forward, according to the news release.
Following Friday’s water main break, the majority of the city was without water for four days and schools were closed from Monday through Wednesday.
Water was restored on Tuesday night. The boil advisory continued through Thursday, keeping restaurants closed until the advisory was lifted.
Waterbury schools were provided bottled water on Thursday and food services, in consultation with the Waterbury Health Department, ensured meals meet all guidelines established by the FDA and the State Health Department under the boil water advisory, according to the mayor’s office.