The South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority is rehabilitating nearly three miles of aging water mains serving the Greater New Haven area, part of a broader effort to shore up infrastructure that dates back to the mid-20th century.

The project will clean and reline 14,000 linear feet of 8-inch mains with cement mortar, a technique that extends pipe life by 50-plus years at roughly half the cost of full replacement. The authority serves about 430,000 people across 15 towns in the region, including New Haven, Connecticut's third-largest city.

Much of the system was installed during the post-war suburban expansion of the 1940s through 1960s and is now reaching the end of its 75- to 100-year lifespan. Connecticut's water infrastructure received a C-minus grade in the state's 2021 report card, with an estimated $4.8 billion needed over 20 years for drinking water improvements alone.

Rather than tearing up streets to replace entire pipes, crews will insert cement lining into existing mains while keeping water flowing through temporary bypass lines. The project also includes television inspections to assess pipe condition before and after the work.

The designation as Phase I indicates this is the start of a multi-year capital improvement plan. The authority is funding the work locally rather than through state or federal grants.

Contractor selection is underway, with work expected to begin this summer. Connecticut prevailing wage laws apply to the project.