Boil water order drags on in Paterson, N.J., as crews tackle century-old main break

(UI) — Nearly 200,000 residents in Paterson, N.J., and surrounding communities are facing a fifth day under a boil water advisory after a major water main break left homes and businesses with little or no water, according to CBS News.

Officials said crews have isolated the leak in the 140-year-old pipe near Hinchliffe Stadium and begun repairs, but it may be the end of the week—or longer—before the advisory is lifted.

The break on Friday morning disrupted water service across Paterson, Prospect Park, Haledon and North Haledon. Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh said water pressure is slowly improving, though “there’s still work to do” before service returns to normal. Passaic Valley Water Commission officials cited the age and depth of the pipelines—some as deep as 30 feet—as complicating the repairs.

Frustration has been mounting among residents, who say they’ve been told multiple times the problem was nearly fixed, only to see little improvement. Some have resorted to using bottled drinks for basic needs like flushing toilets.

Under the advisory, residents are urged to boil water for at least one minute before drinking or cooking, limit outdoor water use and shorten showers. Bottled water distribution and comfort stations remain open, CBS News reported.

Related News

From Archive

• Most Read
• Most Commented