New Haven, Connecticut Water Outage Today
Live New Haven water outage reports, South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority’s emergency line and the system’s federal record.
Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
No water outage reports in New Haven, Connecticut in the last 24 hours
Who supplies water in New Haven?
Drinking water in New Haven, Connecticut is supplied by South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority, which handles outages, main breaks and boil water notices for the city.
Public water systems in Connecticut are regulated by the Connecticut Department of Public Health Drinking Water Section.
To report no water or a main break, call South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority at 203-562-4020.
Who runs the water in New Haven: system profile
The system behind most taps in New Haven is Regional Water Authority, which EPA records list as serving roughly 418,900 people. Customers know it as South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority; the name on your bill is the one to call.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Water system in EPA records | Regional Water Authority (CT0930011) |
| Run by | Local government |
| People served | 418,900 through 115,707 service connections |
| Source of the water | Surface water (rivers, lakes or reservoirs) |
| Active facilities listed by EPA | 6 surface intakes, 19 active wells, 12 treatment points, 42 storage tanks and reservoirs, 31 pump facilities |
| Connections to other systems | 6 (4 listed as emergency supply) |
| State regulator | Connecticut Department of Public Health Drinking Water Section |
| Health-based violations since 2015 | 0 |
| Highest lead result (90th percentile) | 1 ppb, action level 15 ppb |
Source: EPA SDWIS (Safe Drinking Water Information System).
What feeds the taps in New Haven
Tap water in New Haven starts as surface water. Regional Water Authority takes it from Lake Saltonstall, Lake Gaillard, and Lake Dawson and runs it through treatment before it reaches the mains. Treatment points named in EPA's facility list include West River Water Treatment Plant, Lake Saltonstall Water Treatment Plant, and Lake Gaillard Treatment Plant. After treatment the water is held in 42 storage tanks and reservoirs and pushed uphill by 31 pump facilities; that storage is the buffer that keeps taps running for a few hours after a pump or main fails.
Why this matters when the water stops. A surface-water system depends on its plant staying online. If the plant, the raw-water pumps or the power feeding them fails, pressure can fall across the entire service area at once, and a precautionary boil notice tends to cover whole zones rather than the single street of a main break. EPA lists 4 emergency connections to neighboring systems, which can be opened to move water across a boundary during a failure.
What causes water outages and low pressure in New Haven
These are the causes that match the record for New Haven, listed roughly in order of how much they matter here.
- Freezing weather. New Haven sees about 124 days a year with a low at or below 32°F, and 38 days at or below 20°F. The coldest morning in the 2015 through 2025 record came on February 24, 2015. The longest stretch with highs that never rose above freezing ran 17 days, ending February 21, 2015. Frozen service lines and meters cause single-address outages, while ground frost and thaw cycles crack older mains and produce the street-wide breaks.
- Older neighborhoods and pipe. 68.6% of occupied homes in New Haven were built before 1970, against 35.5% nationally. Streets of that age tend to sit on cast iron and early steel mains that are near or past their design life, which is where most breaks start.
- Tropical storms and hurricanes. Storm surge, flooding and multi-day power cuts are the main threat to treatment plants and pump stations in Connecticut. Utilities in the region routinely issue precautionary boil notices after a storm, even where nothing is found in the water.
- Construction and third-party damage. A backhoe or boring crew that hits a main is among the most common reasons a single block goes dry without warning. Utilities handle those the same way as any break: isolate, repair, flush.
- Planned shutoffs and a problem at one address. Valve replacements and new connections are announced ahead, often with door hangers. If neighbors have water, check your own shutoff valve, meter and pressure regulator before calling.
New Haven weather and water-main stress, 2015–2025
Main break season in New Haven runs from late fall into early spring, with the coldest stretch around December through February.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Days a year at or below 32°F | 123.5 |
| Days a year at or below 20°F | 37.6 |
| Days a year with a high at or below 32°F | 26.5 |
| Days a year at or above 95°F | 1.4 |
| Days a year at or above 100°F | 0.1 |
| Days a year with an inch of rain or more | 9.9 |
| Average annual precipitation | 47.1 in |
| Wettest year | 2018 (61.6 in) |
| Driest year | 2016 (35.8 in) |
| Coldest day in the record | February 24, 2015 |
| Hottest day in the record | July 29, 2025 |
Source: NASA POWER daily reanalysis (MERRA-2) for the city center, 2015–2025.
Freezing days peak in January, averaging 28.3 a year. Source: NASA POWER reanalysis, 2015–2025.
The wettest year was 2018 with 61.6 inches; the driest was 2016 with 35.8. Source: NASA POWER reanalysis, 2015–2025.
A note on the numbers: they are modeled for the city center and averaged over eleven years, so they show how often New Haven sees each kind of weather, not what any one thermometer read on a given day.
New Haven boil water notices and EPA compliance record
EPA lists no health-based violations for Regional Water Authority since 2015. It also lists 56 monitoring or reporting entries that are about paperwork rather than water quality, such as a missed sample or a late report.
Most recent entries, all monitoring or reporting:
- December 2020: A lead consumer notice requirement It is marked resolved.
- January 2017: A missed or late disinfection byproduct monitoring sample
| Type of violation | Health-based | Monitoring and other |
|---|---|---|
| Other | 0 | 29 |
| Chemical and radiological contaminants | 0 | 24 |
| Public notice and annual reports | 0 | 1 |
| Disinfection byproducts | 0 | 1 |
| Lead and copper | 0 | 1 |
Source: EPA SDWIS.
Monitoring and other Health-based
Violations are counted by the year the compliance period began. Source: EPA SDWIS.
A boil water notice in New Haven is a separate thing from a violation. South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority issues one when pressure falls low enough for contamination to enter the pipes, after a main break is repaired, or when a routine test comes back positive. The Connecticut Department of Public Health Drinking Water Section oversees the process, and the notice stays until clean samples come back, usually a day or two after pressure returns.
Lead service lines and old plumbing in New Haven
The most recent 90th-percentile lead result filed for Regional Water Authority is 0 ppb (2026). The federal action level is 15 ppb, so that result is comfortably below it.
Highest result on file: 1 ppb. Source: EPA SDWIS.
The age of the housing matters more than the utility's test average: 68.6% of occupied homes in New Haven predate 1970 and 1986 was the year lead pipe and solder were banned. Flush the cold tap after an outage and ask South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority whether your service line is on its lead inventory.
How long a water outage lasts in New Haven
Most repairs of an ordinary main break in New Haven take half a day once the crew is on site. Bigger mains, deep bury and busy roads stretch that to a day or more. With 418,900 people on the system, a break on a main that feeds a whole district can leave thousands of homes dry at once, and crews may close valves several blocks away to isolate it.
| Situation | Typical time |
|---|---|
| Planned shutoff | A few hours inside a window announced in advance |
| Ordinary main break | Roughly 4 to 8 working hours |
| Large or deep main | One to three days, longer if parts must be ordered |
| Low pressure after a pump or power failure | Hours to a day, once power or the pump is restored |
| Boil water notice after service returns | One to two days while samples are tested |
| Frozen service line or meter | Until it thaws or a plumber repairs it |
Source: Utility practice, EPA and state boil water guidance.
South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority will post an estimated restoration time for a break that affects many customers; ask for the repair crew's estimate when you call.
Preparing for a long water outage in New Haven
Census figures put the typical New Haven household at about 2.5 people. At one gallon per person per day that is 7 gallons for three days or 34 gallons for a two-week supply.
- 22.9% of homes are in buildings with 20 or more units. Upper floors lose pressure first, and rooftop tanks and booster pumps depend on building power.
- 71.6% of households rent. Tell your landlord or property manager about a leak or outage right away, since the shutoff valve may be theirs.
- Your water heater tank holds 30 to 50 gallons of clean water. Turn off the power or gas to it first, then drain from the valve at the bottom.
- Fill a tub or large containers early for toilets, cleaning and handwashing, and store drinking water separately in clean bottles.
Water systems near New Haven, side by side
| City | System | People served | Source | Health violations since 2015 | Highest lead (ppb) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Haven, CT | Regional Water Authority | 418,900 | Surface | 0 | 1 |
| Bridgeport, CT | Aquarion-Eastern Fairfield County | 351,756 | Surface | 0 | 8 |
| Waterbury, CT | Waterbury Water Department | 107,271 | Surface | 0 | 34 |
| Hartford, CT | Metropolitan District Commission | 390,887 | Surface | 0 | 8 |
| Stamford, CT | Aquarion-Stamford | 119,214 | Surface | 0 | 2 |
Source: EPA SDWIS.
Water outage pages for nearby cities
Bridgeport, CT · Waterbury, CT · Hartford, CT · Stamford, CT
Staying informed about water service in New Haven
Sign up for alerts from South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority and check its website or social accounts when the water goes off. If a boil advisory is issued, the water outage guide covers how to treat water and when it is safe again.
New Haven quick answers about water service
Who do I call about no water in New Haven?
South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority at 203-562-4020, day or night. Use 911 only if a main break is flooding property or roads.
Is New Haven water from a river, lake or well?
Surface water supplies New Haven, according to EPA records for Regional Water Authority. It draws from Lake Saltonstall, Lake Gaillard, and Lake Dawson.
Is New Haven tap water safe to drink?
EPA lists no health-based violations for Regional Water Authority since 2015, and its latest 90th-percentile lead result is 0 ppb against the 15 ppb action level. If the utility issues a boil notice, boil water until it announces the all-clear.
What time of year are New Haven water main breaks most common?
Breaks in New Haven pile up in the cold, with about 124 freezing days a year and the worst stretch from December to February. The days right after a deep freeze, when the soil thaws and shifts, are usually the busiest.
What causes low water pressure in New Haven?
A sudden drop usually means a break or valve problem nearby, while a slow decline in the evening points to demand. If the whole street is affected, tell South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority; if not, look at your own regulator and shutoff.
When will a boil water notice be lifted in New Haven?
Plan on one to two days after pressure is back. South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority samples the water, waits for clean lab results and then lifts the notice, with the Connecticut Department of Public Health Drinking Water Section overseeing the steps.
How many gallons of emergency water does a New Haven family need?
Store at least three days of water, and two weeks if you can. With about 2.5 people in a typical New Haven home, that is roughly 7 and 34 gallons.
Should I worry about lead in New Haven water?
Lead pipe was legal until 1986, and 68.6% of occupied homes in New Haven predate 1970, so it is possible in older neighborhoods. South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority can tell you what your service line is made of; a lead-certified filter is a sensible precaution if you are unsure.
How do I check for water outages near me in New Haven?
There is no pipe-level map on this site. The report counter above reflects what residents of New Haven have sent in over the last day, and South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority has the official word on main breaks, planned shutoffs and boil notices.
More outage pages for New Haven and nearby
Other outage types in New Haven
Water Service Outages in cities near New Haven
- Bridgeport, CT 16 mi · Aquarion Water Company
- Waterbury, CT 18 mi · Waterbury Water Department
- Hartford, CT 34 mi · The Metropolitan District (MDC)
- Stamford, CT 36 mi · Aquarion Water Company
- New Rochelle, NY 52 mi · Veolia Water New York
- Mount Vernon, NY 55 mi · Mount Vernon Board of Water Supply
Report counts are user-submitted; other figures name their official source. How our data works
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