For Immediate Release:

July 1, 2012

    State of emergency still in effect

“We are pleased that NJ American Water Co. is working diligently to resolve this issue,” Monmouth County Freeholder Director John P. Curley said. “We also remind our residents that the water restrictions remain in effect and that the support and vigilance by residents will get us through this emergency.”

This afternoon, the New Jersey American Water Company in cooperation with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and the county’s Office of Emergency Management removed the boil water advisory in 18 of the 22 towns that have been under a boil water advisory since Friday.

The four towns that remain under the boil water advisory are Aberdeen, Highlands, Holmdel and Middletown.

The 18 towns released from the boil water advisory are: Allenhurst, Deal, Eatontown, Fair Haven, Little Silver, Loch Arbour, Lake Como, Long Branch, Monmouth Beach, Oceanport, Ocean Township, Neptune, Rumson, Sea Bright, Shrewsbury Borough, Shrewsbury Township, Tinton Falls and West Long Branch.

The ongoing water emergency means that:

• All New Jersey American Water Company customers are under mandatory water restriction that bans all outdoor water use and encourages indoor water conservation. It is illegal to water your lawn, shrubs or gardens, fill swimming pools and wash cars. Indoor conservation measures include refraining from using washing machines and dishwashers, limiting showering times and flushing toilets less frequently.
• Outdoor water conservation is highly encouraged by residents of the 31 towns not directly impacted by the water emergency.

The emergency was created by the collapse of three large water pipes Friday at the water company’s water treatment plant at Swimming River Reservoir.

“The Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office is working with local law enforcement agencies to ensure that the outdoor water ban is strictly enforced,” Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden said. “These restrictions are not just for New Jersey American Water customers, but for everyone in Monmouth County. Cooperation is necessary to ensure public safety.”

Three large water pipes at New Jersey American Water Co. broke around noon Friday, causing a reduction or total loss of water pressure or supply. Other water companies will be rerouting water to New Jersey American Water Co. customers, but not enough to meet normal demand.

“That’s why it is so important to conserve water regardless of what utility you receive your water from,” Monmouth County Emergency Management Coordinator Michael Oppegaard said.

Additionally, New Jersey American Water Co. recommends the customers in the four towns still under the boil water advisory take the following steps:
• Water should be brought to a rolling boil for at least one minute then cooled prior to using;
• Keep water that has been boiled 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, and
• Use only boiled water to treat minor injuries.

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