Water main breaks in Jersey City; pressure returning

JERSEY CITY, New Jersey (WABC) -- Crews are finishing up repairs after a water main break in Jersey City affected water pressure and light rail service Tuesday morning.

The 12-inch main broke around 4:15 a.m. at Washington Street and Essex Street, near the New Jersey Transit Hudson Bergen light-rail tracks, leaving the southwestern section of Jersey City with little or no water pressure.

Rail service was temporarily suspended between Marin Boulevard and Exchange Place due to the break, but both tracks were back in service by noon.

Greg Kierce, emergency management director in Jersey City, said the concern was the high demand for water in the morning, and United Water brought the water back slowly to prevent other incidents. United Water isolated the leak and had full service restored by noon, though pressure was only at about 70 percent until the early evening.

Water tankers were stationed at various high-rise buildings and senior citizen housing in the downtown area, and additional tankers were brought in to supplement fire services. Jersey City Medical Center was also relying on a tanker, and the hospital suspended elective surgeries until the afternoon.

All PS 16 students were relocated to PS 3, and the opening of Ellis Island was delayed. Liberty Island was open, with visitors asked to spend more time there.

There was no boil water advisory in effect.

Anyone experiencing discolored water was advised to run the tap until the water ran clear.