Water Troubles on Furnace Avenue

A planned water main replacement on Furnace Avenue got off to an inauspicious start over the weekend, when water started bubbling up from an apparently broken water main. In some ways, it was pretty good timing since the Connecticut Water Company (CWC) was already planning to replace the main, starting May 21, 2025. Still, over Memorial Day weekend, the water just kept coming, letting copious amounts of water wash down Furnace Ave. 

As work resumed again on Tuesday, May 27, nearby residents reported that the water was still running that afternoon. Instead of addressing the immediate leak, the CWC is continuing with its work further down the road and on the other side of the street. I contacted CWC to find out when residents can expect to see the running water addressed, but as of 8: 45 a.m. on May 28, I still had not heard back. [UPDATE: As of about 3:30 p.m., a representative from CWC said the water line was being repaired on the afternoon of May 28.] The water, however, was still running down the street and into the next storm drain. Because traffic is shut down on the opposite side of the road during work hours, one-way traffic is, at least in theory, traveling over the leak.

A video of the leak taken by a resident during the late afternoon on May 27, 2028

Here’s some info from the project website: “Connecticut Water will replace about 2,400 feet of existing pipe with 8” & 12” ductile iron pipe. This project will increase available water flow to the area and improve system reliability and fire protection.  Five fire hydrants will be replaced as part of the project, along with connections to 30 homes.”