ISELIN, NJ, (December 9, 2020)   Middlesex Water Company is issuing a Boil Water Advisory for residents of the Borough of Carteret and sections of Port Reading and Sewaren east of the New Jersey Turnpike as a result of a broken 20-inch water transmission main.  Middlesex Water’s crews are currently isolating the main and performing repairs and pressures are beginning to rise across the affected area.

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection requires us to issue the following advisory:

Effective immediately and until further notice, customers within the impacted service area of the Borough of Carteret and Port Reading and Sewaren east of the New Jersey Turnpike 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:

• 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).

Individuals with severely compromised immune systems, infants, or the elderly may be at increased risk and should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes are available from EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791.

More details of this advisory and updates may be found at www.middlesexwater.com.  Please note, this advisory is NOT related to COVID-19.

Middlesex Water will provide information as to when the advisory is lifted.   Customers with questions may 800-549-3802. Updates will be posted to our website at www.middlesexwater.com  on the Company’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/MIDDLESEXWATER and via Twitter. 

Contact:

Bernadette Sohler, Vice President – Corporate Affairs
Middlesex Water Company
(732) 638-7549
www.middlesexwater.com