Large Water Main Break In Nutley Impacts Other North Jersey Towns

NUTLEY, NJ — A water main break that took place in Nutley earlier this week is affecting other towns and cities in North Jersey, authorities say.

The fallout from Wednesday’s break spurred a boil water advisory in Bloomfield and caused alerts in Newark, Montclair, Belleville and Glen Ridge. Bloomfield was the only town to issue a boil water advisory as of Friday. Read More: Large NJ Water Main Break Causes Boil Advisory, Service Issues (Update)

Officials in multiple towns have said that the broken water main is operated by the North Jersey District Water Supply Commission. A spokesperson with the agency told Patch that crews have been on the job “around the clock” since the break took place, and have been working with local police and other public safety officials on traffic and other related issues. Work is expected to be completed by Friday night.

“The exact reason for the compromise of the pipe is under investigation,” he added.

NUTLEY

Nutley town officials released an advisory about the break on Wednesday. Officials wrote:

“The Township of Nutley is aware of a water line break in one of the main transmission supply lines in the area of Bloomfield Avenue and Church Street. These lines transverse Nutley from Bloomfield into Belleville. At this time, the water transmission line break does not appear to be that which supplies Nutley and there are no water issues with the Nutley water system. All transmission supply line authorities are assessing the situation to isolate the leak and make repair. The Nutley Water Department, Police, Fire and EMS are also on site to provide assistance as needed. Please expect road closures and detours in the area of Bloomfield Avenue from Centre Street to Church Street as authorities work to make the necessary repairs.”

Nutley officials gave an update about the situation on Friday.

"This water transmission line does not supply Nutley and there are no water issues with the Nutley water system," officials said. "The Nutley Water Department, Police, Fire and EMS are on site to provide assistance as needed. Please continue to expect road closures and detours in the area of Bloomfield Avenue from Centre Street to Church Street as authorities work to make the necessary repairs."

OTHER NEW JERSEY TOWNS

The water main break may also affect other municipalities in Essex, Hudson and Passaic counties, according to Newark city officials, who issued the following advisory early Friday morning:

“Mayor Ras Baraka, Public Safety Director Fritz Fragé, and Director of the Department of Water and Sewer Utilities Kareem Adeem report that a 74-inch water main break that occurred in Nutley may affect the East Ward and lower South Ward of Newark. The water main, operated by the North Jersey District Water Supply Commission (NJDWSC), may also affect municipalities in Essex, Hudson, and Passaic counties. Residents in the affected areas may experience low water pressure or no water as a result of this incident. However, updates regarding repairs will be announced.”

Nutley's neighbor, Belleville, reported Wednesday that some areas of town were experiencing low water pressure.

"This break may cause water discoloration," Belleville officials said, noting that a boil water advisory was not in effect.

In Bloomfield, town officials issued a boil water advisory on Wednesday that continued into Friday. Officials said the town’s water woes are due to “emergency water supply issues along the City of Newark supply lines, which provide water to the Township of Bloomfield.”

Mayor Michael Venezia told Patch that the water main break affecting Bloomfield is related to the one which took place in Nutley. Read More: Boil Water In Bloomfield Until Further Notice, Town Says (Updated)

Glen Ridge also reported issues related to the water main break. According to a Thursday message from the township:

“In the area of Bloomfield Avenue and Church Street in Nutley, a leak has been detected in the main water transmission supply line owned and maintained by the North Jersey District Water Supply Commission. This aqueduct provides some of the water to the Glen Ridge area. At 10:00 p.m. tonight they will be shutting down the aqueduct for the repair. We will be opening the backup interconnection with the East Orange water system. Water pressure to the area may drop. Additionally, the water from East Orange comes from a different approved and safe source. However, you may detect a different taste. Currently, we do not have an estimated time for completion of the repair. Updates will be provided as they come in.”

Glen Ridge town officials said Friday that the NJDWSC continues to work on the aqueduct repair. There is no boil water requirement in Glen Ridge, officials added, but local residents should turn off their lawn sprinklers and keep them off until Monday.

Montclair officials issued an advisory about “brown water” on Friday in relation to the break.

According to the Montclair Water Bureau:

“The Montclair Water Bureau is aware of the brown water occurring throughout the system. Our supplier North Jersey District Water Supply Commission has a water main break on the 72-inch transmission line. Due to the supplier trying to isolate the break [overnight], Montclair had to move to another state-approved water source. In doing so, the water flow was reversed in respective water mains between water sources, stirring up mineral content and causing brown water.”

“The water does not pose a health hazard to the public, and although aesthetically unpleasant, poses no risk,” Montclair officials added.

"Over the next 72 hours, it is important that we all do what we can during this emergency repair," Mayor Sean Spiller said Friday.

"We are asking that Montclair residents and businesses moderate their water consumption while North Jersey District Water Supply Commission repairs its water line," Spiller continued. "Simple steps over the next 72 hours, such as eliminating landscape watering and avoiding high water-use activities like washing cars, will assist in preserving township water pressure and our water supply and will help to avoid the need for other more restrictive measures."

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