Priority 2: Replace Aging Water Infrastructure

Frequent water main breaks lead to service disruptions and boil orders for affected households and businesses. Reducing these disruptions and the burden they place on residents is essential to preserving the high quality of life our community enjoys.

Old infrastructure results in an increased number of emergency repairs, service outages, and staff time.

Of the 289 miles of water main, more than 80 miles are approximately 75-100 years old. We rely on these water mains to deliver 6.9 million gallons of water daily.

Over the past three years, the average number of water main breaks has doubled, climbing to more than 200 in 2025.

More breaks mean more service disruptions, and increased maintenance and staff costs.

The City has worked for a number of years to avoid significant rate increases by postponing large-scale infrastructure projects and relying instead on interim solutions. However, the time has come when these improvements can no longer be delayed.

Replacing aging water infrastructure is essential to maintaining reliable service levels, complying with health and environmental regulations, and supporting the City’s long-term economic stability.