A massive water main burst devastated several New Jersey towns, leaving tens of thousands of residents — and a local emergency hospital — without running water and triggering at least one car choke.
For hours, water poured out of the 140-year-old 72-inch pipe, which ruptured around 8 a.m. Tuesday at Branch Brook Park on the border between Newark and neighboring Belleville.
At some point during the day, a sinkhole opened and engulfed an entire vehicle. Only one tire could stick out of the water. The driver told NBC that she saw water rising up the road ahead of her and quickly fled her car. She wasn’t hurt.
The water emergency forced the city of Newark to cancel summer school and prompted some area hospitals to divert patients as residents and businesses were urged to conserve water.
As a precaution for residents of Newark and Belleville, boil water advisories are in place until further notice. The situation will be reassessed on Wednesday morning.
A massive water main burst devastated several New Jersey towns, leaving thousands of residents without running water and triggering at least one car swallow (pictured).
The water main burst came amid the recent heatwave, which had already prompted a Code Red declaration from Newark – which had opened emergency shelters
Free cases of bottled water were being distributed in Belleville late Tuesday night, with a limit of one case per family and proof of Belleville residency
Belleville Mayor Michael Melham posts video of a hole in the ground that opened up after the water main burst, swallowing an entire vehicle. Only one tire could stick out of the water
About 100,000 people were affected in Newark alone, according to Kareem Adeem, director of the Newark Department of Water and Sewer Utilities.
“Most of the infrastructure in the Northeast includes Newark. Newark is the third oldest major city in the country and may have infrastructure that predates Abe Lincoln’s presidency,” Adeem said.
Newark and the nearby city of Belleville were without water or restricted on Tuesday, officials said, and the boil-water recommendation is in effect for both communities.
Video posted to Facebook by Belleville Mayor Michael Melham shows water spurting out of the water main as a sinkhole swallows a vehicle.
Belleville Township Manager Anthony Iacono told Gothamist, “It literally absorbed the entire vehicle.”
Video posted to Facebook by Belleville Mayor Michael Melham shows water spurting out of the water main as a sinkhole swallows a vehicle
Several hospitals in the area have been forced to reroute patients and officials who have suggested residents not to come to the hospital for non-urgent reasons.
University Hospital, Newark’s largest hospital and the only Level 1 trauma center in the area, implemented emergency water conservation and activated its emergency command center. The number of visitors was limited and all voting procedures were cancelled.
“Until normal water operations resume, the community should refrain from visiting the hospital for nonurgent reasons,” hospital officials said. “The University Hospital is always there to meet the health needs of the community and we appreciate everyone’s patience during this temporary water emergency.”
Free cases of bottled water were being distributed in Belleville late Tuesday night, with a limit of one case per family and proof of Belleville residency.
Newark City workers distributed more than 7,000 boxes to residents and even went door-to-door in the sweltering heat, CBS News reported.
Belleville Mayor Michael Melham posts videos of vehicles queuing to pick up crates of water after a water main burst with the caption: Our DPW is stepping up, as always during a crisis!
Newark officials reported that there appeared to have been two breaks, the first being at Branch Brook Park on Mill Street and a second being on Joralemon Street, both in Belleville, according to NBC4.
Utility officials identified six problem valves, and all were closed by early afternoon, the outlet reported.
The water main burst came amid the recent heatwave, which had already prompted a Code Red declaration from Newark – which had opened shelters to provide overnight accommodation for residents.
NO WATER, WHAT NOW? HOW IT WORKS WITHOUT RUNNING WATER
The City of Newark issued a Boil Water Advisory until further notice Tuesday after a water line hiatus.
Customers within the affected service area are advised to boil tap water for one minute and allow tap water to cool prior to use or use bottled water.
Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking; Preparation of meals; Mixing baby food, food, juice or drink; wash vegetables and fruits; Cook; make ice cream; Brush teeth; and wash dishes. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water.
Additional measures during a water emergency:
- Throw away uncooked food, drink, or ice cubes made with tap water during the boil water alert day.
- Store boiled water for drinking and cooking in the refrigerator.
- Use boiled water when preparing beverages such as coffee, tea, and soda.
- Do not swallow water when showering or bathing. Be careful when bathing babies and young children. Consider giving them a sponge bath to reduce the chance of swallowing water.
- Rinse handwashed dishes with a diluted bleach solution (one tablespoon of household bleach per gallon of tap water) or clean your dishes in a dishwasher on the hot cycle and dry cycle.
- Do not use household filter devices in place of boiling or bottled water. Most household water filters do not provide sufficient protection against microorganisms.
- Wash the food preparation surfaces with boiling water.
- Prepare powdered or concentrated baby food with bottled water. Use boiled water if you don’t have bottled water.
- Only use boiled water to treat minor injuries.
- Offer your pets boiled (and chilled) drinking water.