New Britain
New Britain, CT water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
new britain water department
surface water (rivers/reservoirs) · local government · PWSID CT0890011
Below EPA's 15 ppb lead action level at last testing.
Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) · 2026 Q1
New Britain, CT is a small but growing city, with a population near 72,808 and the 10th-largest community in Connecticut. Like much of Connecticut, New Britain draws its water primarily from Connecticut River, reservoirs, and groundwater.
New Britain's water outlook is shaped most by aging infrastructure — the issue that dominates planning across Connecticut. Generally water-rich, with periodic regional shortfalls and PFAS detections driving treatment upgrades.
New Britain sits in a state that reuses roughly 4% of treated wastewater (minimal programs) and currently experiences abnormally dry to moderate drought.
For the bigger picture, see the Connecticut state water profile and the related issues below.
Hartford County water quality
Source: EPA SDWIS · 2026 Q1
At a glance
- Population ~72,808 (10th-largest in Connecticut)
- Primary sources: Connecticut River, reservoirs, and groundwater
- Drought: abnormally dry to moderate conditions
- State reuse rate: ~4% of wastewater
Statewide drought history
% of Connecticut in severe+ drought (Moderate (D1) now).
Source: U.S. Drought Monitor
Common questions
Is tap water safe in New Britain?
New Britain's largest water system, NEW BRITAIN WATER DEPARTMENT, serves about 73,534 people. EPA records show 0 health-based violation(s) since 2016 and a most-recent 90th-percentile lead level of 0 ppb (EPA action level is 15 ppb). Always check your own provider's annual Consumer Confidence Report.
Where does New Britain get its water?
NEW BRITAIN WATER DEPARTMENT draws primarily from surface water (rivers/reservoirs), part of Connecticut's supply from Connecticut River, reservoirs, groundwater.
Related water issues
Aging Infrastructure
Much of America's water infrastructure is decades past its design life, leaking trillions of gallons a year and demanding hundreds of billions in reinvestment.
ExplorePFAS Contamination
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances persist in water supplies for decades. New federal limits are forcing utilities nationwide to invest in advanced treatment.
Explore