SOMERVILLE – New Jersey American Water has issued a mandatory boil water advisory for customers in Bridgewater, Hillsborough, Raritan Borough and Somerville because of a 36-inch water main break on Route 206 between South Bridge Street and Orlando Drive.
About 30,000 customers in Bridgewater, Raritan, Somerville and nearby municipalities are either experiencing reduced service or are without service.
Outdoor water use ban for Somerset, Hunterdon customers
New Jersey American Water has also issued a mandatory outdoor conservation ban for residential customers in Hunterdon and Somerset County over the next 48 hours while the company repairs the water main break.
“We are issuing this mandatory outdoor conservation ban to help us preserve our water supplies while we work to fix this very large diameter main,” said Carmen Tierno, senior director of Central Operations for New Jersey American Water. “We appreciate our customers cooperation and patience as our crews work diligently to restore regular water service to the area.”
Residential customers in Hunterdon and Somerset counties should refrain from outdoor irrigation and other nonessential outdoor water use, such as washing cars and topping off swimming pools. Customers are being notified of this outdoor conservation notice via the company’s emergency notification system. New Jersey American Water is working to resolve the issue as quickly and safely as possible.
Customers within the impacted areas are instructed to bring tap water to a rolling boil for one minute and allow cooling before using or use bottled water. Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking; preparing foods; mixing baby formula, food, juices or drinks; washing vegetables and fruit; cooking; making ice; brushing teeth; and washing dishes until further notice. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water.
New Jersey American Water also recommends the following steps:
- Throw away uncooked food or beverages or ice cubes if made with tap water during the day of the advisory.
- Keep boiled water in the refrigerator for drinking.
- Do not swallow water while showering or bathing.
- Do not use home filtering devices in place of boiling or using bottled water, most home water filters will not provide adequate protection from microorganisms.
- Use only water that has been boiled (and cooled) to treat minor injuries.
- Rinse hand-washed dishes with a diluted bleach solution (one tablespoon of household bleach per gallon of tap water) or clean your dishes in a dishwasher using the hot wash cycle and dry cycle.
- Upon boiling water for potable use, it is suggested that 2-3 gallons of boiled (and cooled) water be stored in the refrigerator in one gallon-containers for use in cooking, drinking, etc. Water can be stored in this manner for 2-3 days.
- Pets should be provided with drinking water that has been boiled (and cooled) in the manner indicated above.
The utility is telling customers to boil your water or use bottled water until you are notified that the water quality is satisfactory. This advisory will remain in effect until repairs are completed and testing shows the water quality to be safe.
Impacted customers are being notified of this boil water advisory via the company’s emergency notification system. New Jersey American Water is working to resolve the issue as quickly and safely as possible. Updates as they occur will be made available on the website at www.newjerseyamwater.com, under Alerts, and on the company’s Twitter and Facebook pages. If customers have any questions, they may call 1-800-272-1325.
All impacted residents -YMCA members or not – are invited to visit Bridgewater YMCA, Hillsborough YMCA, Somerset Hills YMCA & Princeton YMCA for showers and restrooms. Photo identification is required.
YMCA has showers, restrooms
All impacted residents (Y members or not) are invited to visit Bridgewater YMCA, Hillsborough YMCA, Somerset Hills YMCA & Princeton YMCA for shower and restroom. Photo ID req.
Southbound lanes now open on Route 206 due to a 36-inch water main break.
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Espo’s in Raritan announced it is closing tonight due to the water main break, as did Sarah Jane’s Restaurant in Somerville. The water main break is about 500 yards from Sarah Jane’s Restaurant’s, according to its post.
Staff Reporter Jenna Intersimone: JIntersimone@MyCentralJersey.com
Read More:Boil water advisory, outdoor water use ban for Somerset, Hunterdon customers
2023-06-30 23:22:52
