Edison Mayor Sam Joshi says a 20-inch water main broke at 2505 Woodbridge Avenue around midnight.
"It definitely sucks, especially that we're trapped in here, and we can't leave," said Edison's Marissa Hunt. "I like to go get food or something, but we can't do that now."
Town officials say finding food might just be as much of a challenge. The water main break is impacting residents and businesses, roughly 20,000 customers, along Woodbridge Avenue, Route 27 and areas up to Talmadge Road, which enters into the center and northern part of town.
Those who are impacted currently have little to no water pressure, and a boil water advisory was issued as a precautionary measure.
Mayor Joshi announced the Edison Senior Center located at 2963 Woodbridge Avenue will be open to provide restroom facilities from 9 p.m.Thursday until 1 a.m. on Friday.
The Senior Center will be staffed by a Health Department staff member and Edison Police, the Mayor said.
Edison Township is also providing residents with access to bottled water. The distribution centers for gallons of water are located at Firehouse #1, 25 Plainfield Ave near Woodbridge Ave, and Firehouse #2, 1997 Route 27 at the corner of Langstaff.
Residents who need water can visit these distribution centers and access gallons of water until further notice. To receive the water, residents must show a valid ID as proof of residency.
One of those impacted businesses was a Wendy's, whose drive-through was empty.
"I just wanted to get a cup of Joe and that was it," said Andrew Benz. of Edison.
Officials said they have curtailed 70% of the flow of water.
Mayor Joshi says Edison Water and Sewer Utility and emergency contractor crews are working on an insertion valve put into the water main break that will curtail the water and will allow it to be repaired.
After the insertion valve is put into place, it will take several hours to restore water.
Officials say water restoration is expected to be fully restored by Friday morning.
"This is a larger problem with aging infrastructure some of the pipes dates back 80 years," Joshi said. "This is weather conditions. This is common for it to occur. This is just another one."
Officials say freezing weather and aging infrastructure may have played a role in the break.
Edison is like so many other towns in the Northeast, crumbling infrastructure and not enough cash to fix it.
The Mayor says the administration has spent more in 3 years than in the last 40 replacing pipes like this, but there is more work to be done.
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