A water emergency stretched into a fourth day on Monday for up to 200,000 people in New Jersey, where a broken water main has forced a widespread boil water advisory.
Water service was disrupted on Friday when the break in a 30-inch water main occurred behind the famed Hinchcliffe Stadium in Paterson. The rupture sent thousands of gallons of water pouring into the streets and down a hillside near Paterson’s Great Falls for hours, and led to low water pressure — or no water at all — for many residents.
“Please continue 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,” the Passaic Valley Water Commission told people over the weekend.
Repairs to the main have proven difficult and may continue into Tuesday. Early Monday morning, officials said the repairs would likely take another 12 to 24 hours to complete. A city-wide boil water advisory was in effect not just for Paterson residents, but also the Borough of Prospect Park.
In their notice, the PVWC said boiled or bottled water should be used for:
- Drinking
- Preparing foods
- Mixing baby formula, juices or drinks
- Washing vegetables and fruit
- Cooking
- Making ice
- Brushing teeth
- Washing dishes
The water commission said free bottled water would be available at Hillford Park starting at noon; proof of residency in Haledon, North Haledon, Paterson or Prospect Park would be required. Residents in the effected areas have been advised to limit outdoor water use, especially for lawns and gardens. People were also asked to take shorter showers and only run full loads of laundry.
Kennedy High School was opened to provide additional help. Officials said portable bathrooms and showers would be made available to anyone who does not have water.
The boil water advisory will only be lifted once water quality tests deem the water safe to use.
