Boil Water Advisory In Parts Of Montclair After Main Break (Updated)

MONTCLAIR, NJ — A boil water advisory was issued for part of Montclair on Thursday after a “severe” main break at the intersection of Bloomfield and Midland avenues.

The Montclair Department of Utilities issued an alert about the water main break at 8:58 a.m. It read:

“There is a severe water main break at Bloomfield Avenue and Midland Avenue intersection. The main broke at 7:45 a.m. this morning, and our crew is responding to repair the break. Due to the high volume of water and the number of utilities in the ground, we will have to perform a complete shutdown and issue a boil water advisory in the affected area.”

“Thank you for your patience and understanding while we work to complete repairs and restore road conditions as quickly and safely as possible,” the Montclair Department of Utilities added.

MORE DETAILS RELEASED

Montclair town officials released more details about the break and the boil water advisory at 11:24 a.m.

According to the water bureau:

"The Montclair Water Bureau is providing notification that a water main break has occurred at the intersection of Bloomfield Ave and Midland Ave which has caused customers within our service area to be without water. A potential or actual threat to the quality of water being provided to you currently exists. As a precaution, we are implementing a limited boil water advisory until testing of the water supply is deemed satisfactory."

What does this mean? According to the water bureau:

"Effective immediately and until further notice, customers within the impacted area of Bloomfield Avenue between Valley Road and South Park Street, including all of Maple Plaza, 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 until further notice. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water."

The following measures are also recommended, officials added:

• Throw away uncooked food or beverages or ice cubes 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
• 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 using bottled water; most home water filters will not provide adequate protection from microorganisms
• 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," officials continued. "This advisory will remain in effect until repairs are completed and testing shows the water quality to be safe. We are working as quickly as possible to restore your water quality. Thank you for your patience."

For more information, contact the Montclair Water Bureau (973)744-4600.

BOTTLED WATER

Montclair officials issued another update about the break at 3:15 p.m. It read:

"Any residents or businesses affected by this morning’s water main break on Bloomfield Avenue that are in need of bottled water, please contact (973) 744-1234 or come to Montclair Fire Headquarters (1 Pine Street), where we will have bottled water available. If you are unable to come to headquarters, please contact us at (973) 744-1234."

REPAIRS, BROWN WATER

Montclair town officials sent another update at 8:21 p.m.

"The water main break on Bloomfield Avenue at the intersection of Midland Avenue has been repaired, and the water has been restored," officials wrote. "As a reminder, the boil water advisory is only in place for residences and businesses on Bloomfield Avenue between Valley Road and Park Street, including Maple Plaza."

Got brown water? Here's what Montclair officials say about it:

"The brown water that is being seen throughout the town does not pose a risk. It is mineral content that settles out in the main over time. Due to the size of the break there was a slight pressure drop through the water system. As the water bureau isolated the issue the pressure began to restore changing the velocity in the system and stirring up the mineral content."

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