For decades, contracts between the two towns provided Watertown with water and sewer services at much lower rates than those paid by Waterbury residents. Waterbury’s decision stop offering a discount doubled the price Watertown paid for water, while sewer prices rose by over 300%. The response from officials in Watertown was to continue paying the old rates for water and sewer while protesting the price increases. In 2023, a superior court judge ruled in the city’s favor, ordering Watertown to pay $18.8 million in unpaid water bills. After losing their appeal, officials in Watertown began paying the higher water rates.