For Immediate Release:

July 1, 2012

     State of emergency still in effect

Only Middletown HS North giving out water Monday

MIDDLETOWN, NJ – With the boil water advisory reduced to just four towns, only one water distribution site – Middletown High School North – will open on Monday. Hours at the school, located at 63 Tindall Rd., are from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

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.

“I want to commend residents throughout Monmouth County because it was through their effort to conserve water that enabled New Jersey American Water Co. to lift the advisory for 18 of the 22 towns affected,” Freeholder Director Jon P. Curley said. “But we are not out of the woods yet. It is still critically important to continue conserving water in order to keep the restriction off.”

The Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders declared a state of emergency Friday afternoon following the collapse of three large water pipes at New Jersey American Water Co.’s water treatment plant at the Swimming River Reservoir.

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 Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office is working with local law enforcement agencies to ensure that the outdoor water ban is strictly enforced in areas serviced by New Jersey American Water Co.,” Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden said.

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 have been 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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