Outdoor Water Restrictions Eased

Odd/Even Day Watering Restriction Still In Effect, But Sprinkler Use Is OK

New Jersey American Water Company said that the temporary repairs at the Swimming River Water Treatment Plant are completed and that its Monmouth County customers can water their lawns with sprinklers so long as they continue to observe the odd/even day schedule that has been in effect since Sunday.

The odd/even watering schedule entails:

• Outdoor water use between the hours of 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.  on odd-numbered days of the month if your street address is an odd number (i.e., 23 Oak St., 7 Maple Ave.)
• Outdoor water use between the hours of 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.  on even-numbered days of the month if your street address is an even number (i.e., 6 Oak St., 354 Maple Ave.)

Exceptions are:

• Watering of new sod or seed if daily watering is required (note: it is recommended that any planting of new sod or seed that has not already taken place be delayed until the fall)
• Use of private wells for irrigation
• Commercial uses of outdoor water, such as for nurseries, farm stands, power washing, plumbing, athletic fields, and car washes

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Outdoor water use restrictions modified

Alternate day watering with handheld garden hoses OK between 5am-9am and 5pm-9pm

New Jersey American Water Company has modified the restrictions on outdoor water usage for its Monmouth County customers.

From the company’s announcement:

Customers may now use handheld garden hoses for outdoor purposes, every other day, between the hours of 5 a.m. to 9 a.m., and again from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. With very limited exceptions, lawn sprinkler irrigation system use is still banned. Even with the easing of the ban’s restrictions, New Jersey American Water is strongly advising its Monmouth County customers to continue conserving water both inside and out. If strict conservation measures are not followed then it may be necessary to reinstitute a stringent outdoor water ban.

The odd/even schedule is effective beginning today and entails:

• Handheld garden hose outdoor water use between the hours of 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.  on odd-numbered days of the month if your street address is an odd number (i.e., 23 Oak St., 7 Maple Ave.)
• Handheld garden hose outdoor water use between the hours of 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.  on even-numbered days of the month if your street address is an even number (i.e., 6 Oak St., 354 Maple Ave.)

Exceptions are:

• Watering of new sod or seed if daily watering is required (note: it is recommended that any planting of new sod or seed that has not already taken place be delayed until the fall)
• Use of private wells for irrigation
• Commercial uses of outdoor water, such as for nurseries, farm stands, power washing, plumbing, athletic fields, and car washes

As the system continues to stabilize, customers may experience discolored water. New Jersey American Water recommends running the water until clear. However, the discolored water could be used for the watering of shrubs and garden plants.

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NJAWC evaluating stability of fix before lifting outwater use restrictions

Connecticut engineering firm will determine the cause of the failure

Photo credit: New Jersey American Water Company

New Jersey America Water Company announced today that the “temporary fix” of water mains at the Swimming River Water Treatment Plant have been completed, they “hope.”  The company is evaluating the stability of the system before lifting the ban on outdoor water usage for the company’s Monmouth County customers.  They hope to be able to lift the outdoor water use ban in the near future.

The company’s statement said that the 24 inch water main pictured to the left is sending 12,000 gallons per day of treated water to Middletown.

Peter Escbach, NJAWC’s spokesperson, told the Asbury Park Press that confidential company reports indicated that the two evalutions of the site following Tropical Storm Irene, one by the company and another by an independent contractor, showed that the bridge and water mains that failed last week continued to meet manufacturers standards despite the slight movenment of the pipes and damage to the bridge caused by the August 2011 storm.

Ocean and Coastal Consultants Inc. of Trumbull, Connecticut has been hired by NJAWC to determine the cause of the major infrastructure failure.

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Outdoor water ban lifted for some; conservation urged

NJAW customers still under strict non-watering mandate

TINTON FALLS, NJ – The Monmouth County Office of Emergency Management, in consultation with New Jersey American Water (NJAW), lifted the outdoor watering ban today for all non-NJAW customers.

However, the mandatory outdoor watering ban remains in effect for all NJAW customers in order to maintain water pressure and supply throughout the lines as repairs continue.

“Even though the ban has been lifted for many residents, public safety officials urge everyone to continue conserving water,” Freeholder Director John P. Curley said. “We look forward to further progress in the days ahead.”

The state of emergency remains in effect for all NJAW customers. The ongoing water emergency means that:

• Customers of New Jersey American Water are under a mandatory water restriction that bans all outdoor water use and encourages indoor water conservation. It is illegal for NJAW customer to water lawns, shrubs or gardens, fill swimming pools and wash cars;
• All restrictions for non-NJAW customers have been lifted, although conservation is urged.
• New sod or newly seeded lawns and planted shrubs can be watered to an appropriate level;
• Indoor conservation measures include refraining from using washing machines and dishwashers, limiting showering times and flushing toilets less frequently; and
• Commercial businesses that rely on water for their operations are not subject to these restrictions.

Because a state of emergency still exists, law enforcement will continue to enforce the ban for NJAW customers.

“Monmouth County residents should be commended for their cooperation and support during this critical time,” Sheriff Shaun Golden said. “Their efforts helped improve the situation enough to remove some of the bans that had been put in place.”   

The emergency was created by the collapse of three large water pipes June 29 at the water company’s water treatment plant at Swimming River Reservoir.

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Water main repairs going better than expected

Well water nourishing the Asbury Park Press grass roots

Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden told MMM that repairs to the water mains at NJWAC’s Swimming River Water Treatment Plant are going better than expected and that the restrictions on outdoor water usage may not last weeks as many have feared.

If NJAWC’s progress continues at the present pace, alternate day outdoor usage could be permitted in towns serviced by NJAWC next week. 

Golden said the outdoor ban is a public safety measure in the event of a fire. NJAWC is bringing water in from neighboring water companies to service its Monmouth County customers and water pressure remains below normal.  Monmouth County and State officials are requiring water conservation to ensure that resources are available to respond to a life threaten event if necessary.

Only properties with well water, like the Asbury Park Press in Nepture Township, are permitted to water lawns, wash cars, etc.

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If you see something, say something

“If you see something, say something” is the slogan of a government campaign, originally deployed by the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority, to encourage citizens to report potential terrorist activity to the authorities before something catastrophic happens. 

The “major infrastructure failure” at New Jersey American Water Company’s Swimming River water treatment plant last week that resulted in no water for thousands of Monmouth County residents, a boiling water advisory for hundreds thousand of residents, and that will likely result in dead gardens, empty pools and dirty cars for the rest of the summer is an unfortunate lesson that we need to “say something” when our public utility companies are apparently putting our health at risk.

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Boil Water Advisory Lifted for Aberdeen, Highlands, Holmdel and Middletown

Outdoor water use ban remains in effect

New Jersey American Water Company has lifted the boil water advisory for the Aberdeen, Highlands, Holmdel and Middletown.

The use of water outdoors continues to be banned for NJAWC customers in Monmouth County.

The following measures are strongly encouraged now that the boil water advisory is rescinded:

Run your water faucets for 3-5 minutes to flush your service connection and interior plumbing with water from the service main.
Empty and clean your automatic ice makers and water chillers.
Drain and refill your hot water heater if the temperature is set below 113 degrees Fahrenheit.
Service connections with a water softener/cartridge filters should be run through a regeneration cycle or other procedures recommended by the manufacturer.

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Christie to Monmouth County Residents: Conserve water, don’t use fireworks

Water emergency to be repaired by July 4th

Gov. Chris Chrisite boarding a State Police helicopter on his way to address a power outage in Atlantic County after addressing the press in Monmouth County about the current water crisis. Photo by Art Gallagher

Oceanport, NJ- Governor Chris Christie implored Monmouth County residents to conserve water and to express their patriotism by not shooting off private fireworks for the duration of the water crisis caused by the major infrastructure failure at New Jersey American Water Company’s Swimming River water treatment plant.  Addressing the press at the Wolf Hill Recreation area in Oceanport, Christie said “if a lot of things go perfectly” the water crisis will be over by the July 4th holiday.

Christie announced that residents of twenty two towns should boil their water before drinking or cooking.  Those towns are : 

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Water distribution update

Tom Stokes reports that New Jersey American Water Company is limiting bottled water distribution to one gallon per vehicle at Middletown High School North.  Once the gallon bottles are gone, they will be giving out smaller bottles, but not likely a full case per vehicle.

Stokes says that there are water tanks at North brought in by the National Guard.  Residents can bring their own containers to fill.   Best Market in Holmdel is selling water for $2.99 per case, according to Stokes.

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Water Emergency Will Last Until At Least Sunday Evening

The water emergency caused by “a major infrastructure failure” at the New Jersey American Water Company’s Swimming River water treatment plant in Middletown will last until at least Sunday evening, according to an announcement on the Borough of Rumson’s website.

All Monmouth County residents are advised to refrain from non-essential use of water and to boil water before consumption.  Outdoor water use is banned until the state of emergency is lifted.

Governor Chris Christie and Cabinet Officials will be holding a press conference this afternoon, 1:45, at the Wolf Hill Recreation Area, Oceanport to update the public on the water main break situation.  MMM will be there.

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