Community Corner

Red Bank Responds to Water Main Break Crisis

Though drinking water is not affected, residents are asked to conserve their water usage.

In response to the water main break at New Jersey American Water's Swimming River facility Red Bank is asking its residents to limit all non-essential water use for the forseeeable future.

Though Red Bank is not currently using water from NJAW, according to a message posted on the borough's site, the utility was connected to the main in case local water supplies were insufficient. Because Red Bank's water utility immediately cut off access to NJAW's mains, residents have no need to boil their water before they consumer it, according to the emergency announcement, which went out to residents Friday evening.

Because Red Bank no longer has back up water support from NJAW, residents are asked to conserve by not watering their lawns, washing vehicles or wasting water in any non-essential activity. Sorry kids, no sprinklers or slip-n-slides.

Find out what's happening in Red Bank-Shrewsburywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The conservation effort should be taken for the next week.

Other towns aren't so lucky. Shrewsbury is one of several towns immediately impacted by the water main break. Residents should conserve water and not consume any unless it's been boiled for at least a minute. Not only is drinking off limits, but so too is brushing your teeth, washing your vegetables, etc.

Find out what's happening in Red Bank-Shrewsburywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

From a New Jersey American Water release: 

•        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; 
•        Rinse hand-washed dishes for a minute in diluted bleach (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 swallow water while you are showering or bathing; 
•        Provide pets with boiled water after cooling; 
•        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. 

According to NJAW, the plant delivers 36 million gallons of water each day to 55,000 customers in the county. There is no timetable for the lifting of the water quality advisory. 


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