Newport still should boil

Thursday, October 16, 2008
By TOM SHORTELL
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

Repair crews restored normal water pressure to the Newport section of Jersey City early yesterday morning, but officials are still telling residents and businesses to continue boiling their tap water.

Construction workers replaced a 20-foot section of a 30-inch pipe that burst Tuesday at 4:17 a.m. United Water was able to return normal water pressure to the area by 1:30 a.m. yesterday morning, said United Water spokeswoman Sonja Clark.

The cause of the break, which disrupted service to 30,000 residents and closed stores and restaurants Tuesday, remains unknown, she said.

Residents are still advised to purify all tap water by boiling it for one minute.

The boil advisory will be in effect until Department of Environmental Protection tests show the water is safe to drink, Clark said. That could take another day, Clark said.

Water main break affects 50,000, Newport mall shut down for the day

by Tom Shortell
The Jersey Journal
Tuesday October 14, 2008

People in the Newport section of Jersey City are being told to boil their water after this morning's water main break, which has affected 50,000 customers from 18th Street to Morris Street on Marin and Washington boulevards.

Some offices and businesses - including Newport Centre Mall - have shut down for the day and residents are being told to expect low pressure -and no water at all in some high-rise apartments - until late this afternoon at the earliest.

Police have closed off Washington Boulevard between 14th and 18th streets.

"This is a main feed. They just don't turn a couple of valves to turn it off," said Greg Kierce, director of the Hudson County Office of Emergency Management.

An official from United Water, which runs the system, said this morning that it would take between 12 and 24 hours to fix the broken pipe, at 18th Street and Washington. The main broke at 4:17 a.m.

United Water this morning was still trying to determined the cause of the break, as fire departments from surrounding counties and towns have sent water tankers to provide more fire support in case of an emergency.

Jersey City's fire boat is prepared to suck water out of the Hudson River as well, and construction sites using torch cutters have been shut down for the day, said Mayor Jerramiah Healy.

The police department is patrolling through the area with large water tankers called water buffaloes to provide clean water, said Police Director Sam Jefferson.

Several restaurants in the area were considering closing.

"It's a minute-by-minute operation," Robert Sutton, owner of the Cosi sandwhich shop at 535 Washington Blvd., said this morning. "We're a small business, and all this downtime hurts us."

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Update: Handful of Newport mall stores now open

Jersey Journal
by Tom Shortell
Tuesday October 14

Newport Centre Mall anchor stores JCPenney and Kohl's joined Macy's in reopening today after Jersey City officials gave them the OK in the wake of this morning's water main break on 18th Street Downtown.

The mall and the Target store on 14th Street were closed yesterday morning. By 1:30, Macy's was doing business, followed by JCPenney at 3:30 and Kohl's sometime after 5 p.m. afternoon. A handful of smaller stores has also opened by last night. The movie theater and Sears remained closed.

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Update: Low pressure and water advisory; Macy's reopens

Jersey Journal
by Tom Shortell
Tuesday October 14

Residents and businesses in the Newport section of Jersey City will have to boil their water for the next few days after a 30-inch water pipe burst early this morning, leaving 50,000 customers with low water pressure, officials said.

A water main on 18th Street west of Washington Boulevard broke at 4:17 a.m., said Debra Rizzi, a United Water spokeswoman. The Target on 14th Street most of Newport Centre Mall yesterday over fears that firefighters would not be able to put out a blaze. Macy's reopened yesterday afternoon.

It took workers about two hours to stop the flow of water through the pipe, which is relatively quick for a pipe that size, said Jersey City Police Sgt. Greg Kierce, the Jersey City Office of Emergency Management coordinator.

"This is a main feed. They just don't turn a couple of valves to turn it off," he said.
Officials are removing a 20-foot section of the pipe and hope to have it replaced by tomorrow, Kierce said. Water pressure will return to normal after a new pipe is put in place, Kierce said, although residents have been advised to boil their water for the next three days.
Officials are still investigating what caused the burst, he said.

Mayor Jerramiah Healy said an area about a mile long from 18th Street to Morris Street, from Marin to Washington boulevards was effected by the main break. Kierce said 30,000 residents have been effected.

Fire departments from surrounding counties and towns sent water tankers to provide fire support in case of an emergency and construction sites using torch cutters were shut down for the day, Healy said.

Police set up large water containers called water buffaloes throughout the area to provide clean water to residents yesterday afternoon, said Police Director Sam Jefferson.

H. James Boor, the city's chief health inspector, said inspectors were checking the 50 to 75 restaurants in the area to see if they had sufficient water pressure to remain open. Those without it had to close, Boor said.

Several restaurants and diners weren't sure how long they could stay open.

"It's a minute-by-minute operation," said Robert Sutton, owner of Cosi, on Washington Boulevard, said yesterday afternoon. "We're a small business, and all this downtime hurts us."

http://cityofjerseycity.com/

Emergency Alert: Water Main Break in Newport Area - Update

Please be advised that there has been a 30" water main break at 18th Street and Washington Blvd.

United Water?s emergency crews have shut off water to the broken main and that has greatly reduced pressure in the immediate area

United Water has issued a "boil water" advisory for the Newport area (from 18th Street and Washington Street south to Morris Street). Officials expect the repair will take most of the day. Read press release http://cityofjerseycity.com/

Potable water is being provided by the city at the following locations through Water Buffaloes:

Grand St & Washington
River Drive South (Cul De Sac)
444 Washington Blvd (Avalon Cove)
Greene St & Columbus Drive
Foot of Exchange Place

Jersey City residents living in this section of the City (from 18th Street and Washington Street south to Morris Street) should boil their water for one minute for the
following: drinking, cooking, or baking, making ice cubes, taking medication, brushing teeth, washing food, mixing baby formula or food, mixing juices or drinks, feeding pets,
and all other consumption.
Water does not have to be boiled for the following activities: showering, washing dishes or clothes.

The specific location of the water main break is the westbound side of 18th street, between the back of Target and the light rail tracks. As of 3:30pm Target remains closed but Staples is open.

I just spoke with United Water. The boil water advisory extends as far west as Marin Blvd. So if you're west of Marin (i.e. Grove, Jersey Ave), your water is fine.

I just want to say thanks to the lady who bought 20 individual gallons of water this morning at Shoprite, leaving 0 for the rest of us who were there. 

When confronted you said you worked for a hotel and needed water.  Well, the rest of us need water too.  Besides, shouldn't a hotel be prepared in advance for these types of events?

I assume they mean all of downtown, including Paulus Hook? I think that is what they did last time there was a water main break. I feel like this happens at least once or twice a year.

It would also be nice to know how far west this extends. They talk about Washington & 18th south to Morris.
But Newport Mall is west of Washington Blvd and that's shut down....

Quote:

I found this, but is Morris St considered Newport? If not, this is useless, because we don't know what area is actually affected.

http://www.unitedwater.com/PressRelease.asp?ReleaseID=975

Do we have to boil water and for how long? There isn't a message or anything that I see on the United Water site...

Quote:

I assume businesses that serve the public are closed down. But I sit in Newport forced to work without coffee, water, or toilets.

Anyone here know more info?

I just heard that too -- only on WNYC -- does the "boil water" advisory affect all of Downtown? If not where is the line drawn?

Also am I right to assume this also affects all Downtown Restaurants & Bars (Ice, soda water, etc..)

Quote:

Wow, does that mean Newport has no toilets???

They're talking about it on 1010Wins.

They said Newport Mall is closed down, as are most businesses without water. There's a command center at Target where they're selling bottled water.

I didn't hear how long they said it would take to fix it (24 hours?) but they said there will be a boil water advisory another 72 hours after it comes back on.

don't these things usually break in the winter? Any idea what caused this?

CONTACT:
Rich Henning
United Water
201 767 2869


UNITED WATER EMERGENCY CREWS ON THE SCENE AT MAIN BREAK IN JERSEY CITY
Break is at 18th and Washington

JERSEY CITY, NJ, 10/14/2008 5:51:41 AM ? United Water Jersey City emergency crews are working to shut down a broken 30-inch water transmission line at the intersection of 18th Street and Washington Street in Jersey City. The break occured at approximately 4:00 am this morning and will affect residents living in the Newport section of the City.

Jersey City residents living between the area of 18th Street and Washington Street south to Morris Street can expect lower than normal water pressure or possibly even no water in the high rise buildings. "We are urging all of our customers in the City to conserve their water usage this morning so we can at least maintain some pressure in the affected area," said Tom Neilan, director of operations for United Water.

United Water emergency crews were immediately on the scene of the 30-inch main break and are in the process of shutting the water off near the affected area to assess the damage and then fix the break. Officials expect the repair will last most of the day.

Water main break in Jersey City's Newport area

October 14, 2008

JERSEY CITY, N.J. - Emergency crews are repairing a broken 30-inch water main in Jersey City.

United Water says the break occurred around 4 a.m. Tuesday at the intersection of 18th and Washington Street in the Newport section.

Crews are turning off the water to assess the situation.

United Water says Jersey City residents living between 18th and Washington south to Morris Street can expect lower than normal water pressure or possibly even no water in high rise buildings.

All Jersey City residents are asked to conserve water throughout the morning to help maintain some pressure in the affected area.