Bayonne boil water advisory in effect after water main break, service outage

BAYONNE (WABC) -- All Bayonne residents have water and pressure is close to 100 percent after a main break left the city with little or no water for hours Thursday.

Repair work continues, with the state Department of Environmental Protection conducting tests on the water to determine its safety.

There were two water main breaks in Bayonne Thursday, but it was a third in nearby Kearny that caused the major disruption.

United Water says the break involves a 30-inch main in the aqueduct in Kearny that carries water to Bayonne. Crews spent the afternoon digging and making repairs, and temporarily interconnected with water supply coming from Jersey City.

Shortly before 4 p.m., officials said Bayonne residents should start to see water coming back. As a precaution, a boil water advisory is in effect for all customers in Bayonne until the water is deemed safe.

City officials recommend drinking or cooking water be boiled for three minutes, through Friday.

Emergency crews are also making repairs to a 6-inch water mains on Linnet Street between Oak Street and Isabella Avenue and on 46th Street. However, they do not believe either of those breaks is responsible for what has left a significant portion of the city without water.

A reverse 911 call went out to residents, and public safety controls were put in place that included fire tankers available to supply the fire department and another tanker sent to Bayonne Medical Center so they had a back up supply if they needed it.