SOUTHBURY, Conn., Nov. 7, 2025 — A new, $6.3 million drinking water treatment facility went online at Connecticut Water’s Heritage Village system, which serves portions of Middlebury, Oxford, and Southbury. The facility is designed to remove naturally occurring minerals that have historically caused discolored water.
When Connecticut Water acquired the system in 2017, discolored water had been a long-standing issue because there was no treatment of the minerals present in the source water. The company developed a comprehensive action plan that included optimizing treatment at the wells, replacing mineral-coated water mains, and implementing an effective flushing program. The final phase of that plan—the design, construction, and commissioning of the new treatment facility—is now complete.
“This project has been a long time coming. We’re thrilled to bring this new facility online and start serving customers,” said Connecticut Water President Craig Patla. “A project like this reaffirms our commitment to building for the future as stewards of critical infrastructure that delivers high-quality water to our customers each and every day.”
The Heritage Village water system is comprised of five groundwater wells capable of producing 2 million gallons per day to about 5,500 customers across Southbury, Oxford and Middlebury, about half of which reside in the Heritage Village Community.
The new facility continues to use the existing wells but adds advanced filtration to more effectively remove manganese and iron, which are naturally-occurring minerals in the groundwater that can cause discoloration even though the water continued to meet all drinking water standards. This multi-million dollar infrastructure investment will improve water clarity and taste for customers. Customers should notice a difference almost immediately with continued improvement as the minerals in the storage tank and pipes dissolve over time.
Project design started in early 2022, with final project specifications/drawings generated late 2023. Engineers designed the building exterior to match the appearance of the Village. Construction of the facility started in early 2024.
The facility features the latest technology, allowing for remote monitoring and control by our water experts. Water operators get instant status alerts on more than 120 water quality alarm setpoints. A generator will also keep the facility operational during power outages.
Like other new Connecticut Water facilities, the Heritage Village facility recycles water used during filter backwashing as part of our commitment to environmentally friendly operations. Instead of flowing to a lagoon or wastewater system, water used to clean the filters returns to the beginning of the treatment process to be treated and re-used again.
At Connecticut Water, our top priority is delivering reliable, high-quality drinking water to the communities we serve. That means continually investing in the technologies and infrastructure like this facility, which is needed to deliver on that commitment.
