Date: October 30, 2024

Mandatory Boil Water Advisory LIFTED for Bridgewater, Raritan Borough and Somerville 

UPDATE as of 6:45 pm 11/1/24

New Jersey American Water LIFTS Mandatory Boil Water Advisory for Bridgewater, Raritan Borough, and Somerville

Customers residing in Bridgewater, Raritan Borough, and Somerville (Raritan System PWSID: NJ2004002) were notified on October 30, 2024, of a possible problem with the drinking water due to a water main break on Route 206 in Somerville and were advised to boil the tap water before using as a precautionary measure. We are pleased to report that water quality testing shows the water quality to be safe.

THE BOIL WATER ADVISORY IS LIFTED, and it is no longer necessary to boil your water before using. The following measures are strongly encouraged at this time:

  • Run your cold-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 filter should be run through a regeneration cycle or other procedures recommended by the manufacturer.
  • Water reservoirs in tall buildings should be drained and refilled (as applicable).

An alert is being sent to customers via the company's emergency notification system notifying them of the lift, and it can also be viewed on New Jersey American Water’s website by visiting newjerseyamwater.com/alerts, and clicking "View Active Advisory List." If customers have any questions, please contact: New Jersey American Water’s Customer Service Center at 1-800-272-1325.

Additionally, repairs to the main are expected to be fully completed this evening. As the main returns to service, customers may experience cloudiness, discoloration, or pockets of air. If this occurs, customers should run the cold water taps only for three to five minutes at the lowest level of the house to clear discoloration and at the highest level in the house to clear cloudiness.

 

UPDATE as of 11 am 11/1/24

The section of the water main impacted by the break has been successfully replaced and is in progress to be brought back into service. Water quality samples were collected last night and are currently being analyzed, which takes at least 24 hours.

At this time, the Mandatory Boil Water Advisory issued for Bridgewater, Raritan Borough, and Somerville remains in effect until further notice. Please continue to bring any water to be used for drinking or cooking to a rolling boil for 1 minute. Water is OK for bathing, washing, and other common uses. Para obetener informacion sobre el requerimiento de hervir el agua antes de consumirse; visite newjerseyamwater.com, presione Espanol y seleccione ‘Noticias’ bajo la seccion de ‘Noticias y Comunidad.

If you are a landlord and water service is in your name, please inform your tenants so they are aware of this impact to their water service.

We will provide another update this evening. Updates are also available online at www.newjerseyamwater.com/alerts. We appreciate your continued patience and cooperation as we work diligently to resolve this issue.

Esto es un aviso importante sobre su servicio de agua y/o alcantarilla. Para asistencia en Español, por favor llame New Jersey American Water al 1-800-272-1325.

 

UPDATE as of 5 pm 10/31/24

Repairs to the main are in progress, the system is fully pressurized, and all customers have water service. Our Water Quality team is preparing to take the required water quality samples this evening, pending DEP approval. Once the samples are analyzed, which takes at least 24 hours, we will be able to determine if the boil water advisory can be lifted.

The Mandatory Boil Water Advisory issued for Bridgewater, Raritan Borough, and Somerville remains in effect until further notice. Please continue to bring any water to be used for drinking or cooking to a rolling boil for 1 minute. Water is OK for bathing, washing, and other common uses. Para obetener informacion sobre el requerimiento de hervir el agua antes de consumirse; visite newjerseyamwater.com, presione Espanol y seleccione ‘Noticias’ bajo la seccion de ‘Noticias y Comunidad.

If you are a landlord and water service is in your name, please inform your tenants so they are aware of this impact to their water service.

We will provide another update tomorrow afternoon. Updates are also available online at www.newjerseyamwater.com/alerts. We appreciate your continued patience and cooperation as we work diligently to resolve this issue.

Esto es un aviso importante sobre su servicio de agua y/o alcantarilla. Para asistencia en Español, por favor llame New Jersey American Water al 1-800-272-1325.

 

UPDATE as of 11:50 am 10/31/24

The system has significantly recovered overnight, but customers may still experience low pressure as the water main repair continues. All customers in Bridgewater, Raritan, and Somerville are still under an active boil water advisory and should continue to boil their water before consumption. 

Excavation of the pipe is ongoing, and we will assess the extent of the damage to the main and begin repairs today. The southbound lanes and one northbound lane of Rt. 206 have reopened, but drivers should continue to avoid the area if possible and if not, please travel with caution near the work zone. 

We will provide an additional update later today. Thank you to our customers for their continued patience and cooperation as we work swiftly and safely to address this issue.

 

UPDATE as of 6 pm 10/30/24

The water main break has been isolated, and repairs to the main are underway. Water service and pressure have been restored to the system, but customers in Bridgewater, Raritan Borough, and Somerville are still under an active Boil Water Advisory and should continue to boil their water before consumption. 

Route 206 has been cleared of water and debris, but the northbound lane is still closed at the site of the repair, so please seek an alternate route. 

Our crews will work continuously to repair the main, but due to the size and complexity of the break, we expect repairs and restoration to take several days. We will provide another update on Thursday.

 

10/30/24 at 12:30 pm 

As a result of loss of pressure from a 36-inch water main break on Rt. 206 in Somerville, New Jersey American Water has issued a mandatory boil water advisory for customers residing in Bridgewater, Raritan Borough and Somerville. (Raritan System PWSID: NJ2004002) 

A potential or actual threat to the quality of water being provided to the above area currently exists. As a precaution, we are implementing a limited Boil Water Advisory until testing of the water supply is deemed satisfactory. New Jersey American Water will provide information as to when the advisory is lifted.  

Effective immediately and until further notice, customers within the impacted areas 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. 

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.   

Additionally, a conservation notice is also in effect for residential customers in these communities. Customers should refrain from outdoor irrigation and other nonessential outdoor water use, such as washing cars, until further notice. This is to help maximize pressure levels in the system during the repair.  

Impacted customers are being notified of this boil water advisory via the company’s emergency notification system. New Jersey American Water is working to resolve the issue as quickly and safely as possible. Updates as they occur will be made available on this webpage, and on the company’s Twitter and  Facebook pages. If customers have any questions, they may call 1-800-272-1325. 

 

New Jersey American Water emite un aviso sobre la obligación de hervir el agua para Bridgewater, Raritan Borough y Somerville

New Jersey American Water le recomienda tomar las siguientes medidas:

  • Tire comida cruda, bebidas o cubos de hielo hechos con agua de la llave durante el día del aviso.
  • Mantenga agua hervida en el refrigerador para beber.
  • No trague agua mientras se ducha o baña.
  • No use dispositivos de filtrado domésticos en vez de hervir el agua o beber agua embotellada; la mayoría de los filtros de agua domésticos no cuentan con protección adecuada ante microorganismos.
  • Use solamente agua que se haya hervido (y enfriado) en caso de lesiones leves.
  • Enjuague los platos lavados a mano con una solución con cloro diluido (una cucharada de cloro doméstico por galón de agua de la llave), o lave los platos en un lavaplatos en el ciclo de lavado con calor y el ciclo de secado.
  • Cuando hierva agua para uso potable, se sugiere almacenar entre dos y tres galones de agua hervida (y enfriada) en el refrigerador dentro de recipientes de un galón para usos en la cocina, para beberla, etc. Se puede almacenar de esta forma durante dos a tres días.
  • A las mascotas se les debe brindar agua potable que se haya hervido (y enfriado) de la forma antes detallada.

Continúe hirviendo el agua o use agua embotellada hasta que se le notifique que la calidad del agua es satisfactoria.  Este aviso permanecerá vigente hasta que se completen las reparaciones y las pruebas demuestren que la calidad del agua es segura.

Además, también está vigente un aviso de conservación para los clientes residenciales de estas comunidades. Los clientes deben abstenerse de regar al aire libre y otros usos no esenciales del agua al aire libre, como lavar autos, hasta nuevo aviso. Esto es para ayudar a maximizar los niveles de presión en el sistema durante la reparación.

Puede encontrar más información en el sitio web de New Jersey American Water en www.newjerseyamwater.com, en la sección Alerts Notifications (Notificaciones de alertas), al igual que en sus páginas de Facebook y Twitter: @njamwater.