Boil water advisory issued for towns central New Jersey

Tuesday, August 3, 2021

Boil Water Advisory issued for several New Jersey towns

Nine towns in central New Jersey are under a mandatory boil water advisory due loss of water pressure from a transmission main leak.

NEW JERSEY (WABC) -- Nine towns in central New Jersey are under a mandatory boil water advisory due loss of water pressure from a transmission main leak.

The following towns in Middlesex, Somerset and Union counties are impacted:

Clark

Dunellen

Edison

Green Brook

Linden

Middlesex

Piscataway

Roselle

South Plainfield

New Jersey American Water says the leak happened along Possumtown Road in Piscataway.

"A potential or actual threat to the quality of water being provided to the above areas currently exists," the company said in a statement. "As a precaution, we are implementing a limited Boil Water Advisory until testing of the water supply is deemed satisfactory."

Officials said late Tuesday morning that the leaking transmission main has been mostly isolated, and water pressure is being restored in the system.

Officials issued the following instructions for those in impacted areas:

Effective immediately and until further notice, customers 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.

A water distribution site was set up at 100 New Market Road in Dunellen, where each New Jersey American Water customer is eligible to pick up one case of water.

For residents that are unable to pick-up water due to transportation or physical limitations, please contact admin@greenbrooktwp.org and arrangements can be made for drop off.