Boil Advisory

NEWTON — A break in the water main serving the Brookside Terrace complex that left about 500 residents without water and heat for close to 19 hours has been repaired, but the complex will remain under a boil water advisory until further notice.

A notice about the boil water advisory was supplied to residents following the 19 hour outage, which many residents complained was the only communication received about the entire incident, even during the period where they had no heat or water.

According to Kenneth Teets, coordinator for the Town of Newton’s Office of Emergency Management, the town learned of the main break at approximately 8:30 p.m. Tuesday. Jason Miller, OEM deputy coordinator, said town personnel responded to the scene and determined the break was not on Mill Street, but on the apartment complex property. Miller said Wednesday shutting off the water was necessary to make the repair, which required provisions for fire coverage as the break affected hydrant lines. Miller said the town employees stayed on site to assist the property management company as it coordinated repairs with its contractor.

David Salzman director of operations for Radiant Property Management, Brookside Terrace’s management company, said Wednesday that the onsite management detected a large amount of water running in front of the property on Tuesday night. After the water was shut off, the building’s superintendent was directed to pump heat into the building Tuesday night and during the day on Wednesday; and each resident was given a gallon of water, Salzman said.

The repair was completed by 3 p.m., though water pressure, hot water and heat struggled to return until about 5 p.m. Wednesday.

Residents, some who asked to have their names withheld, contacted the New Jersey Herald on Wednesday to report the issue and said they contacted the onsite management office for assistance but received no calls back or correspondence of the issue until the boil water notice. Some said they also contacted the 24th Legislative District for assistance.

One resident, Emily Perez, said she left voicemails for Brookside management without return calls or information posted about the lack of heat and water. A single mother of three, she said her family experienced difficulties with the inability to flush their toilet; and overnight two of her daughters slept together to keep warm. Matters were further complicated, she said, when her youngest daughter was sent home from school with a fever on Wednesday — to a home that had no heat.

Jennifer Jean Miller can also be reached by phone at: 973-383-1230; on Facebook: www.Facebook.com/JMillerNJH and on Twitter: www.twitter.com/JMillerNJH.

Capital Region Water (CRW) has issued a boil water advisory for a large swath of the Capitol area residential neighborhood.

The advisory covers the heavily residential area near the East Shore YMCA, from Front to North to N. 3^rd to Forster streets (see map).

CRW issued the advisory following a water main break this afternoon on North Street near the YMCA. This has created low water pressure throughout the neighborhood, which increases the chance for water contamination.

Until further notice, CRW requests that customers boil water for drinking, making ice, washing dishes, brushing teeth and food preparation. CRW didn’t offer an estimated time for completion of the work, but said it would notify property owners when it lifts the advisory.

About 200 properties are affected from Front to N. 3rd Street; N. 3rd Street from Forster to North Street; North Street from N. 3rd to Buttonwood Street; Buttonwood Street from North Street to South Street; South Street from Buttonwood Street to Front Street; and Front Street from South Street to Forster Street.

For more information, visit the CRW website.

ORANGE COUNTY, Texas — A boil water notice has been issued for customers of North Orange Water & Sewer in Orange County.

Due to low distribution water pressures (<20psi) caused by power outage, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has required North Orange Water & Sewer, LLC to notify all customers, individuals, or employees that this business has implemented a boil water notice according to the notice.

“All water provided by this business shall be boiled prior to use for drinking water or human consumption purposes prior to consumption (e.g., washing hands/face, brushing teeth, drinking, etc.). 

Children, seniors, and persons with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable to harmful bacteria, and all customers should follow these directions,” the notice stated.

Often when a municipal water system experiences a water main or line break or experiences a drop in water pressure a “Public Notice to Boil Water” is issued.

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Here are some tips for dealing with a boil-water notice from the Centers for Disease Control…

Boiling water

• Fill a pot with water.
• Heat the water until bubbles come from the bottom of the pot to the top.
• Once the water reaches a rolling boil, let it boil for 1 minute.
• Turn off the heat source and let the water cool.
• Pour the water into a clean container with a cover for storage.

Disinfecting water

If you are unable to boil your water, disinfect it instead.

If tap water is clear:

• Use unscented bleach (bleach that does not have an added scent).
• Add 1/8 teaspoon (8 drops or about 0.75 milliliters) of unscented household liquid bleach to 1 gallon (16 cups) of water.
• Mix well and wait 30 minutes or more before drinking.
• Store disinfected water in clean container with a cover.

If tap water is cloudy:

• Filter water using clean cloth.
• Use unscented bleach (bleach that does not have an added scent).
• Add 1/4 teaspoon (16 drops or 1.5 milliliters) of unscented household liquid bleach to 1 gallon (16 cups) of water.
• Mix well and wait 30 minutes or more before drinking.
• Store disinfected water in clean container with a cover.

Remember that containers may need to be sanitized before using them to store safe water.

To sanitize containers:

• Use unscented bleach (bleach that does not have an added scent).
• Make a sanitizing solution by mixing 1 teaspoon (5 milliliters) of unscented household liquid bleach in 1 quart (32 ounces, 4 cups, or about 1 liter) of water.
• Pour this sanitizing solution into a clean storage container and shake well, making sure that the solution coats the entire inside of the container.
• Let the clean storage container sit at least 30 seconds, and then pour the solution out of the container.
• Let empty container air dry OR rinse it with clean water that has already been made safe, if available. Never mix bleach with ammonia or other cleaners. Open windows and doors to get fresh air when you use bleach.

Water filters

• Boil tap water even if it is filtered. Most kitchen and other household water filters typically do not remove bacteria or viruses.

Preparing and cooking food

• Wash all fruits and vegetables with boiled water that has cooled or bottled water.
• Bring water to a rolling boil for 1 minute before adding food to cook.
• Use boiled water when preparing drinks, such as coffee, tea, and lemonade
• Wash food preparation surfaces with boiled water.

Feeding babies and using formula

• Breastfeeding is best. Continue to breastfeed. If breastfeeding is not an option:
• Use ready-to-use baby formula, if possible.
• Prepare powdered or concentrated baby formula with bottled water. Use boiled water if you do not have bottled water. Disinfect water for baby formula if you cannot boil your water (see above for directions on how to use bleach to disinfect water).
• Wash and sterilize bottles and nipples before use.
• If you cannot sterilize bottles, try to use single-serve, ready-to-feed bottles.

Ice

• Do not use ice from ice trays, ice dispensers, or ice makers.
• Throw out all ice made with tap water.
• Make new ice with boiled or bottled water.

Bathing and showering

Be careful not to swallow any water when bathing or showering.

Use caution when bathing babies and young children. Consider giving them a sponge bath to reduce the chance of them swallowing water.

Brushing teeth

Brush teeth with boiled or bottled water. Do not use untreated tap water.

Washing dishes

Household dishwashers generally are safe to use if the water reaches a final rinse temperature of at least 150 degrees or if the dishwasher has a sanitizing cycle.

To wash dishes by hand:

• Wash and rinse the dishes as you normally would using hot water.
• In a separate basin, add 1 teaspoon of unscented household liquid bleach for each gallon of warm water.
• Soak the rinsed dishes in the water for at least one minute.
• Let the dishes air dry completely.

Laundry

It is safe to do laundry as usual.

Pets

Pets can get some of the same diseases as people. It is a good idea to give them boiled water that has been cooled.

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality sets mandatory language for such a notice.

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