Crosby Rebuilds Its Oldest Water and Sewer Lines: What It Means

Crosby is rebuilding the water and sewer lines under its downtown, and the project is one of the most important things happening in town even though it is almost entirely underground. In May 2025 the city was awarded $3,539,610 from the Minnesota Public Facilities Authority to replace aging sewer and water mains between Main Street and Second Street SW and along Third Avenue SW/SE. Mayor Diane Cash described it as part of a roughly $13 million project covering sanitary sewer, water, and storm sewer, the city's oldest infrastructure.

What Is Being Replaced

The work targets the oldest pipes in the system, the mains that have been carrying the downtown's water and waste for decades. Replacing them is not glamorous, but it is the difference between a downtown that works reliably and one that spends its energy on patches. The state funding covers a meaningful share of the cost, which keeps the burden on ratepayers and taxpayers lower than it would otherwise be.

Why Old Infrastructure Matters

**Reliability.** Old water and sewer mains fail at the worst times, and a rebuild removes the guesswork from daily life for residents and businesses.

**Capacity for growth.** New mains are sized for what the town wants to become, not just what it is today, which matters as Crosby keeps drawing visitors to the Cuyuna trails and Serpent Lake.

**It protects the downtown.** The shops and restaurants on Crosby's main street depend on infrastructure that works, and this project secures that foundation.

What It Means for Buyers

Infrastructure is the least visible part of a home-buying decision, and it is often the most important. A town that replaces its oldest water and sewer lines is a town that is planning for the next generation of residents, not just managing the current one. That is the same forward motion you see across our Crosby guide, from the trails to the medical center to the downtown.

The Honest Read

No one tours a water main, and no one should buy a home because of one. But the project tells you how Crosby treats its own foundation, and that matters for the long view. The town is investing in the quiet systems that make daily life dependable, and that is a good sign for buyers who plan to be there for the long haul.

Thinking about Crosby? Schedule a conversation or browse current lake listings. Cheers!