Alert Notification: Boiled Water Lifted for All Towns in Monmouth County; Outdoor Use Ban Continues

7/2/2012

New Jersey American Water, in cooperation with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, and the Monmouth County Office of Emergency Management has lifted the precautionary boil water advisory for Aberdeen, Highlands, Holmdel, and Middletown which had been under the advisory since a bridge holding three large water mains collapsed at the company’s Swimming River Water Treatment Plant last Friday. All of the 22 towns initially under the boil water advisory no longer have to boil their water before consumption.

As part of Monmouth County’s declared Water Emergency, all Monmouth County residents, including New Jersey American Water customers in Monmouth County remain under an outdoor water use ban.

“Our restoration work continues around the clock and although the boil water advisory has been lifted for Monmouth County, it is important that customers continue to comply with the outdoor watering ban,  including watering lawns, shrubs or gardens, filling swimming pools, or washing cars,” said Stephen Schmitt, vice president of operations, New Jersey American Water. “Monmouth County officials have declared a water emergency and outdoor water use in Monmouth County is illegal right now, and for good reason.” Recognizing the important nature of the issue, Governor Christie, at his press conference Saturday, committed the support of local authorities to enforce the ban.

Customers no longer need to boil water before consumption as water quality results for bacteriological samples show that the water meets all state and federal water quality standards.

The following measures are strongly encouraged now that the boil water advisory is rescinded:

• Run your water faucets for 3-5 minutes to flush your service connection and interior plumbing with water from the service main.

• Empty and clean your automatic ice makers and water chillers.
• Drain and refill your hot water heater if the temperature is set below 113 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Service connections with a water softener/cartridge filters should be run through a regeneration cycle or other procedures recommended by the manufacturer.

For updates, customers visit newjerseyamwater.com or facebook.com/newjerseyamericanwater.

NJ American Water Distribution

Starting today, Middletown North HS will be the only active water distribution site. New Jersey American Water will continue to provide bottled water to customers who remain under a boil water advisory. Bottled water will be available daily, beginning Monday, July 2 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Middletown High School North, 63 Tindall Road in Middletown Township.

The company hopes to have the boil water advisory lifted for customers in the aforementioned municipalities by the July 4th holiday, after which the bottled water distribution site will cease operations.

New Jersey American Water customers in the following towns remain under the boil water advisory until further notice:

•ALL Sections of Middletown Township

•Aberdeen Township

•Highlands Borough

•Holmdel Township

Water Restrictions Lifted in 18 of 22 Towns; Middletown Still Under Boil Advisory

From NJ American Water

New Jersey American Water, in cooperation with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, and the Monmouth County Office of Emergency Management has lifted the precautionary boil water advisory for 18 of the 22 municipalities in Monmouth County which had been under the advisory since a bridge holding three large water mains collapsed at the company’s Swimming River Water Treatment Plant last Friday.

As part of Monmouth County’s declared Water Emergency, all New Jersey American Water customers in Monmouth County remain under an outdoor water use ban. “Water pressure in the system is stabilizing right now, so it is critical that everyone stop all outdoor water use including watering lawns, shrubs or gardens, filling swimming pools, or washing cars,” said Stephen Schmitt, vice president of Operations, New Jersey American Water. “In fact, under the county’s declared water emergency, outdoor water use in Monmouth County is illegal right now, and for good reason.” Recognizing the important nature of the issue, Governor Christie, at his press conference yesterday, committed the support of local authorities to enforce the ban.

The following towns only are no longer advised to boil water prior to consumption:

• Allenhurst Borough
• Deal Borough
• Eatontown Borough
• Fair Haven Borough
• Lake Como Borough
• Little Silver Borough
• Loch Arbor Village
• Long Branch City
• Monmouth Beach Borough
• Neptune Township
• Ocean Township
• Oceanport Borough
• Rumson Borough
• Sea Bright Borough
• Shrewsbury Borough
• Shrewsbury Township
• Tinton Falls Borough
• West Long Branch Borough

“We’d like to thank our customers for their conservation efforts thus far, and the cooperation of state, local officials, and emergency management personnel as we work through these issues,” said Schmitt.

Four towns in Monmouth County that remain under a boil water advisory:

• Aberdeen Township
• Highlands Borough
• Holmdel Township
• Middletown Township.

Until further notice, customers in these four municipalities should bring tap water to a rolling boil for one minute and allow to cool before using for consumption; drinking, ice cubes, washing vegetables and fruit, and for brushing teeth. Please continue to boil your water until you are notified that the water quality is acceptable.

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;
• Rinse hand-washed dishes for a minute in diluted bleach (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.
• Do not swallow water while you are showering or bathing;
• Provide pets with boiled water after cooling;
• 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 boiled water to treat minor injuries.

New Jersey American Water will continue working diligently around the clock in order to resolve the need to boil water in these four municipalities, and will ensure that bottled water is available to them.

“We are pleased that New Jersey American Water is working diligently to resolve this issue,” Monmouth County Freeholder John P. Curley said. “We also remind our residents that the water restrictions remain in effect and that the support and vigilance by residents will get us through this emergency.”  

For updates, customers visit newjerseyamwater.com or facebook.com/newjerseyamericanwater.