When another major water main broke beneath Tompkins Street on July 29, more than 5,100 homes and businesses across Waterbury lost running water. The Waterbury Water Company was incorporated in 1859, and the city’s first municipal water system was approved in 1867. Including rehabilitation of two miles of Waterbury’s 42-inch transmission main through a slip-lining project completed in early 2026. Every transmission main should be evaluated according to its age, material, break history, and importance to the overall water system. Water main breaks are often described as emergencies, but in reality, they are symptoms of a much larger problem.