Newark, NJ – August 10, 2022 — Mayor Ras J. Baraka and Director of the Department of Water and Sewer Utilities Kareem Adeem announced today that 99 percent of the city’s water service is restored in the areas impacted by yesterday’s water main break in Belleville.

The water leaks have been stopped and full water pressure should be at 100 percent by this evening.

“We have made outstanding progress on controlling this leak from the water main break from the beginning, and I thank our Water and Sewer Utilities team for their round-the-clock efforts to do so,” Mayor Baraka said. “I also want to thank all of our residents for their patience, the mayors of our neighboring communities, and local businesses who donated bottled water for those impacted while we’ve worked to restore water service.”

“The leak on the water main break has been isolated, the vehicle obstruction removed, and excavation has begun to uncover the water main,” said Director Adeem. “I want to thank our Water and Sewer Utilities crews who have been working nonstop to seal this leak, our residents for their resilience, the Essex County and City of Newark OEM for their immediate and joint response, along with PVWC and Belleville DPW.”

The boil water advisory issued yesterday remains in place until further notice. Residents are advised to continue boiling their water before using it or use bottled water until notified that water quality is satisfactory.

Customers within the impacted service area are instructed to bring tap water to a rolling boil for one minute and allow the tap water to cool before using, or use bottled water. Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking; preparing foods; mixing baby formula, food, juices or drinks; washing vegetables and fruit; cooking; making ice; brushing teeth; and washing dishes. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water.

With more than 8,400 cases of donated water, municipal workers went door-to-door yesterday and continued to do so today to give out water bottles to residents in impacted areas of the city. The City thanks the NJ Department of Homeland Security, Amerigroup, Audible, BJ’s, Emporium Supermarket, Extra Wholesalers, Fedway, Goya, Pepsi, Pueblo Supermarket, Seabra’s, ShopRite of Newark, Stop & Shop, Tropical Cheese, Twin City Supermarket, Water Exchange LLC, and the Dominican Parade for their donations.

-NEWARK-

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