The City of Newark has issued a Boil Water Advisory to its customers until further notice, while the Code Red heat alert remains in effect. A large water main break occurred on Mill Street in Belleville early this morning, which has impacted the North, South, West, and Central Wards of Newark. This has caused customers to experience water loss or low water pressure. A potential or actual threat to the quality of water being provided to you currently exists. As a precaution, we are implementing a Boil Water Advisory to the following areas that are impacted by the water main break until testing of the water supply is deemed satisfactory: North, South, West, and Central Wards of Newark.
The Department of Water and Sewer Utilities has been working all day to restore service to the affected areas, and will continue to do so until the leaks are sealed and full service is back to normal. A number of residents have already had their water service restored.
What should you do if you live in the affected area?
Effective immediately and until further notice, customers within the impacted service area are instructed to bring tap water to a rolling boil for one minute and allow the tap water to cool 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. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water.
The following measures are also recommended:
* Throw away uncooked food, beverages, or ice cubes made with tap water during the day of the Boil Water Advisory.
* Keep boiled water in the refrigerator for drinking and cooking.
* Use boiled water when preparing drinks, such as coffee, tea, and lemonade.
* Do not swallow water while showering or bathing. Use caution when bathing babies and young children. Consider giving them a sponge bath to reduce the chance of them swallowing water.
* 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.
* Do not use home filtering devices in place of boiling or bottled water. Most home water filters will not provide adequate protection from microorganisms.
* Wash food preparation surfaces with boiled water.
* Prepare powdered or concentrated baby formula with bottled water. Use boiled water if you do not have bottled water.
* Use only boiled water to treat minor injuries.
* Provide pets with drinking water that has been boiled (and cooled).
Please continue to boil your water or use bottled water until you are notified that the water quality is satisfactory. This advisory will remain in effect until repairs are completed and testing shows the water quality to be safe.
City of Newark staff are currently going door-to-door, distributing bottled water to residents in the affected areas while water is being fully restored. Residents who need bottled water until then should call these numbers by ward:
* Central Ward
973-289-6687
* North Ward
973-289-7218
* West Ward
973-289-9949
* South Ward
973-733-3013
Anyone experiencing a water emergency should contact 973-733-3654. Newark residents with questions should contact 973-733-4311.
