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BOIL WATER ADVISORY CONTINUES FOR JERSEY CITY, HOBOKEN & LYNDHURST

Jersey City, NJ, November 12, 2003 3:00 p.m. – Although normal water pressure was restored yesterday afternoon throughout the cities of Jersey City and Lyndhurst, United Water officials continue to advise all residents of Jersey City, Hoboken and Lyndhurst to boil their water before using for drinking or cooking. The boil water advisory was issued as a result of a 36-inch water transmission main that broke early yesterday morning and caused a reduction in water pressure.

United Water emergency crews have been collecting water samples throughout yesterday and today from the water distribution system to monitor the safety of the drinking water. The test results from these samples will be shared with the New Jersey State Department of Environmental Protection and a decision whether to continue the boil water advisory will be made late tomorrow afternoon.

In the meantime residents should boil their water for three minutes for the following: drinking, cooking, or baking, making ice cubes, taking medication, brushing teeth, washing food, mixing baby formula or food, mixing juices or drinks, feeding pets, and all other consumption. Water does not have to be boiled for the following activities: showering, washing dishes or clothes.

The water main break that caused the boil water advisory occurred underneath a Belleville Turnpike bridge that spans a marsh near the Hackensack River in South Kearny and was first reported yesterday about 7:30 a.m.