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By Jasmine Laws
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More than 185,000 people in New Jersey were told to boil their water over the weekend after a water main broke on Friday.
The Passaic Valley Water Commission (PVWC) issued the water alert on August 8 for residents and businesses in Paterson, Prospect Park, Haledon and North Haledon.
"The advisory is a precautionary measure to ensure the health and safety of our community," the commission said.
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On Sunday, the PVWC issued an update to say that repairs were underway and expected to be finished in the next 24 to 36 hours.
Responding to Newsweek, the commission said in an update on Monday morning: "We are hopeful to see pressure start to rise later today – we're happy to report that service has been restored in some homes- the current estimate for a repair to be completed is within the next 12-24 hours."
The PVWC added: "The boil water advisory will remain in effect until water quality tests confirm it is safe to lift the advisory. The boil water advisory is a precautionary measure put in place to protect public health."
Why It Matters
Boil water advisories are implemented to protect public health when contaminants may have entered drinking water systems. This can happen after water main breaks and equipment failures.
To kill potentially harmful bacteria, residents in affected areas should boil water for at least one minute.
What To Know
The 30-inch water main break occurred near Hinchliffe Stadium, and left residents in the region with low water pressure or no water at all, according to CBS News.
PVWC said in its boil water advisory that "all water for drinking, cooking, making ice, brushing teeth, and washing dishes should be brought to a rolling boil for at least one minute."
Bottled water has also been made available to affected residents at Hillford Park, located at the corner of North 8th and Oxford Streets in Paterson.
The commission has also installed shower units and portable bathrooms at its comfort station to provide relief for residents without water.
On Saturday, the commission said that repairs were delayed dur to the "location of the break, the age of the system, local topography and other nearby infrastructure." A temporary line was connected on Sunday from Hawthorne to Prospect Park.
The commission said that once the water pressure is restored, it would "flush the system, test for bacteria, and—if results are satisfactory—lift the boil water advisory." It added that this process could take around one to two days after pressure returns.
"We are coordinating with Ridgewood Water to supply Haledon and are pursuing a similar arrangement with Veolia," the commission said.
It added that the Eastside pumping station, which is typically used to support firefighting operations in Paterson, had also been assisting in measures to boost local water pressure.
What People Are Saying
Passaic Valley Water Commission said: "Water distribution took place Friday and yesterday with support from Paterson and County OEMs, as well as the Mayor, Police Department, and Fire Department. Distribution will continue today and Monday, with the schedule extended if needed based on field conditions.
"We remain in close coordination with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, with twice-daily calls scheduled. Field pressure measurements will be used to identify areas that can be removed from the boil water advisory as soon as possible. Crews will continue taking local measurements tomorrow to optimize valve operations and direct flow to the areas most in need once the main line is isolated."
What Happens Next?
Repairs to the broken pipe are still ongoing. The PVWC has said it could take a few days before the boil water advisory is lifted.
Update 8/11/25, 11:52 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with comment from the PVWC.
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