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Update: Boil Water Advisory Reduced to 22 Towns

Ban on outdoor water use remains in effect throughout Monmouth County after collapse of three water mains at Swimming River Reservoir

 

Saturday afternoon: The boil water advisory has been reduced to cover just the towns directly served by New Jersey American Water Company.

Towns still under the boil-water advisory are Middletown, Holmdel, Aberdeen, Highlands, Rumson, Fair Haven, Little Silver, Oceanport, Sea Bright, Tinton Falls, Shrewsbury, Long Branch, Eatontown, West Long Branch, Deal, Allenhurst, Loch Arbor and Neptune. Monmouth Beach, Lake Como and Shrewsbury and Ocean townships were added this morning. For a map of the affected area(s), click here.

In these towns, the boil-water advisory pertains to residents, businesses and health care facilities. Affected businesses include hotels, restaurants and bars. The advisory means water should be brought to a rolling boil for at least one minute and then cooled prior to use.

The ban on all outdoor water use remains in effect for the entire county, as other water companies assist in providing service to New Jersey American customers.

“While things are looking a little better for many county residents today, a state of emergency remains in effect until further notice,” Freeholder Director John P. Curley said. “We are all in this together and it is critically important that each of us does our part to conserve water.”

Update, 9:30 a.m. Saturday: The boil water advisory issued Friday afternoon has been expanded to all towns in Monmouth County, according to a press release issued by Monmouth County officials.

All outdoor water usage -- watering of lawns, washing of cars, filling of swimming pools -- has been banned until further notice. In addition, all residents of Monmouth County are asked to curtail indoor water usage, limitiing the length of showers, avoiding running dishwashers and washing machines.

The “boil-water advisory” includes residents, businesses and health care facilities who obtain their water through utility companies. Water should be brought to a rolling boil for at least one minute and then cooled prior to use. Affected businesses include hotels, restaurants and bars.

The boil water advisory was expanded because water companies in the county have shared agreements and many of their distribution systems are interconnected, according to county spokesman William K. Heine.

The county remains under a state of emergency, Heine said.

Friday: State of emergency declared in Monmouth County

Following a water main break at the Swimming River Reservoir the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders declared a state of emergency for all county residents. 

According to the release, 18 towns with water service from New Jersey American Water were affected by three "large water mains," that collapsed Friday afternoon. As a result, many residents saw either a loss or elimination of their water supply. 

Residents in Monmouth County are not permitted any "nonessential outdoor water use" and urged to limit indoor use, the release said. New Jersey American Water Company customers should follow a "boil-water advisory."

Freeholder Director John P. Curley said, in light of Friday's events, that all county residents could be impacted while repairs are conducted. "All of Monmouth County is in a state of emergency because New Jersey American Water Co. may have to feed off other utilities throughout the weekend," he said. "We need to pull together during this critical time and help one another by conserving water."

Sheriff Shaun Golden said the ban will be "strictly enforced," throughout the county. "These restrictions are not just for New Jersey American Water customers, but for everyone in Monmouth County," he said. "Cooperation is necessary in order to maintain public safety."

The press release from the county also included the following information:

The mandatory restrictions for all Monmouth County residents include the following:

  • No watering of existing lawns, trees, shrubs and gardens;
  • No use of water for nonessential reasons, and
  • Washing cars is prohibited except at commercial car washes that recycle water.

Towns directly affected by this crisis include Middletown, Holmdel, Aberdeen, Highlands, Rumson, Fair Haven, Little Silver, Oceanport, Sea Bright, Tinton Falls, Shrewsbury, Long Branch, Eatontown, West Long Branch, Deal, Allenhurst, Loch Arbor and Neptune.

New Jersey American Water recommends the following steps for these customers:

  • Throw away uncooked food or beverages or ice cubes if made with tap water during the day of the advisory;
  • Keep boiled water 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.
Related Topics: Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders

rcclexplorer

7:30 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012

Wholly crap this is NUTS. I just gave my dog water before reading this, do you think its OK? I live in Aberdeen and I have American water.

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elizabeth straub

8:07 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012

you are probably fine.....water stays in the pipes,so unless you ran the water for a few minutes before you filled his bowl,he should be ok.good luck.I'm switching to canned broth for mine until we are cleared.....

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rcclexplorer

9:38 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012

Thanks elizabeth straub for the help. He is just fine so we are in the clear.

Dan S.

7:41 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012

Does this affect customers of Shorelands Water in Aberdeen and Holmdel?

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john strand

8:58 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012

Not clear-the Shorelands site says that in the summer they partially rely on wells. The Shorelands office is closed for the weekend and they don't have any status info on their web site.
John

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Edward Dooley Jr.

10:24 am on Saturday, June 30, 2012

I read that SW gets 50% of their water from AMW. They probably shut down the feeder pies but I would follow the cautions anyway.
Here is the latest AMW alert posted.
http://www.amwater.com/njaw/

Mike Simpson

8:05 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012

The ban on non-essential use of water applies to every resident and business in Monmouth County. The advisory on boiling water etc. only applies at this point to customers of NJ American Water.

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Michael C

8:33 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012

How is showering/bathing still okay? Doesn't your body absorb water??

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resident

9:41 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012

If it did you'd swell up when you went swimming

Gilda Amster

8:40 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012

Go out and buy a few gallons of water, for you and your pets. That's what we do in Fl whenever a storm(or hurricane) rolls by. It's not a big deal folks!

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rcclexplorer

9:37 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012

I have bottled water he is getting now, but I gave him water before I read this from the tap.

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Edward Dooley Jr.

10:28 am on Saturday, June 30, 2012

That may be OK in FL but when something like this happens the water being sold disappears fast and becomes impossible to buy. Here is what we are going through.
http://www.amwater.com/njaw/

Herky

8:49 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012

Why are towns in Monmouth County , Not supplied by American water effected??

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Scott

11:12 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012

Because the other water suppliers in Monmouth County will be supplying the water for the American Water customers until the mains are repaired.

Carol

9:28 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012

Can njawc get consistent - called at 445 this afternoon - one return call said Howell was fine and another rep said Howell needs to boil and refrain from use??? Bth messages are on my cell phone to listen to!!! Howell OEM just called the house and said to boil !!!!!

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Adam Hochron

9:35 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012

Hi Carol.

The situation in Howell has only changed in the past hour. We are now under the boil water advisory. Putting together a story with all the information as we speak. It will be on the Howell Patch site shortly.

irene

9:51 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012

Ok we live in spring lake heights do we need to also boil water?

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Adam Hochron

10:04 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012

The advisory is for all of Monmouth County so I would say probably yes unless you hear otherwise from the local government.

dan

9:58 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012

typical government failure the governemnt can not even provide water services
we need to reduce the government by at least half and start over no PENSIONS or HEALTHCARE FOR THEM

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Duo Maxwell

10:14 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012

New Jersey American Water is the largest investor-owned U.S. water and wastewater utility. Google it.

Frances LoBiondo

10:12 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012

I live in Wall. Is showering safe? What should I do? I had surgery for cancer and am not completely recovered. Pls respond. What do I do about my laundry?

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michele marino

10:15 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012

shouldn't have nj american water called all their customers with some kind of automated call to warn us. I found out about this on facebook. I'm really pissed because i have children and pets, and would have appreciated being informed!!
Also my home phone number is unlisted so i dont get the reverse 911 calls Thanks American Water!!! DISLIKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Vince

9:24 am on Saturday, June 30, 2012

I received an emergency notification call on my cell phone yesterday at 3:55 PM, and I'm not even a NJ American Water customer. Strange........

RCPhoto

10:17 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012

Wow good thing I happened to check the new tonight, because this is the first I've heard of this situation, and I live in Eatontown!! And unfortunately my entire family has been drinking water from the tap all evening!! WTF?? I've been in and out all day, my husband was at work at a restaurant all day in Long Branch - serving water and ice without precaution because they also were NOT notified! HOW could so many be left in the dark about such a serious problem?!

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CAL

6:52 am on Saturday, June 30, 2012

RC I live in Eatontown, I got a reverse 911, are you signed up? Eatontown is awesome with updating and the call came around 5 pm, that is when Eatontown was informed they were effected. Long Branch I heard from a friend also got a reverse 911 call.

Frances LoBiondo

10:17 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012

I do not feel well. I did not know anything about this until now. No one called me. I am on the emergency call list for Wall township. It is 10:14 pm on Friday. As I said above, I have not yet recovered from cancer surgery.

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Sarah H.

10:40 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012

Wall has it's own reservoir. I believe Wall residents are safe...my family is on the first aid squad so I'm pretty sure we would have heard something :)

rmp0012002

10:18 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012

What does this have to do with the government? You sound like someone who complains just to complain. American Water is a private company not the government.

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mjcnj

3:55 pm on Saturday, June 30, 2012

MJCNJ
The photos of the bridge structure and it's supporting framework carrying the three pipes that I've seen posted seem to suggest that the structure was poorly maintained. I think Monmouth County should hold a formal inquiry into the failure of this important ulility system and if poor maintenance is found that the company should be fined and a fund established to reimburse users like myself for the expenses incurred to purchase water, ice etc. The reasons for such a serious accident need to be promptly investigated by Freehold and State of New Jersey officials.

RCPhoto

10:19 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012

I also didn't know about the ban so I ran the dishwasher... whoops....

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kevin page

10:21 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012

You people are all idiots. Stop whining. Boil your water and don't water your lawns. Everytime something happens people get stupid. Stuff happens and you deal with it. Everyone thinks they live in a perfect world where things never break. Grow up

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rose

9:07 am on Saturday, June 30, 2012

Lol, you're funny! Hahahaha.

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KC

12:05 am on Wednesday, August 8, 2012

People not so much complaining about the situation - complaining about the lack of being informed of the situation. You grow up.

rmp0012002

10:34 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012

Boiling the water is a precaution because the pipes could have pulled in some bacteria from the outside. The usage restrictions are in place to maintain volume and pressure in case of fires. Some towns have not even sent out notification to its residents yet. This is definitely the worst time to have this kind of issue with the way the weather is suppose to be this weekend.

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Cathi

10:38 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012

Directly from the article--- Towns directly affected by this crisis include Middletown, Holmdel, Aberdeen, Highlands, Rumson, Fair Haven, Little Silver, Oceanport, Sea Bright, Tinton Falls, Shrewsbury, Long Branch, Eatontown, West Long Branch, Deal, Allenhurst, Loch Arbor and Neptune. -- PS - All of Monmouth County has water use restrictions but the listed towns have a boil advisory....

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SCM

7:40 am on Saturday, June 30, 2012

I'm believing since i live in COlts Neck in a part where we get our water supplied from Freehold not a well we are ok to drink but not waste the water. Can anyone confirm?

Herky

10:45 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012

John P Curley is in a PANIC mode. Not all of Monmouth needs to be in an emergency state.. American Water does NOT serve all of Monmouith County JOHN!! If the entire county needs to be in this , WHY haven't All towns called their customers???

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CAL

6:55 am on Saturday, June 30, 2012

Herky, the article has 2 parts, part 1 is all of monmouth county needs to restrict water usage because with the issue with NJAW they will be pulling from other water plants, part 2 is just for the NJAW customers which is the boil water advisory.

As for all towns calling customers, I would like to think all towns now have reverse 911 systems because a lot of towns even not in the boil water got calls, but my moms town didn't, so thats a flaw that will hopefully be fixed.

Dan S.

10:47 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012

Shorelands Water reports that they are operating at full capacity.

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RCPhoto

10:47 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012

kevin page - We're "whining" because many of us DRANK the water before we knew to boil it! It's been several hours since it happened, and the fact that so many people were left in the dark is not ok. Oh, and when you resort to name-calling it makes YOU look like the idiot, not us.

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Adam Hochron

10:52 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012

Frances, I would definitely suggest contacting the wall police department through their non-emergency number. They can give you better guidance On what to do or who to contact. Looks like their number is 732-449-4500

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Kim

2:39 am on Saturday, June 30, 2012

Per the Wall Township Website...
http://www.wallnj.com/water.htm
Our water comes from the Manasquan Reservoir.
I believe that only the towns listed are required to boil water... the rest of us in Monmouth County are being asked to conserve water so that those customers of the Swimming River Res. can be supplied with additional water from other sources.
Would have been nice for the Township to update their website though tonight given this emergency news. They still have a notification that should have been removed on April 30, 2012!

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Anthony

6:59 am on Saturday, June 30, 2012

The bridge that collapsed and brought down the pipes which caused all this was slammed when hurricane Irene hit (it was underwater and the roadway next to it was closed) and the spillway overflowed. Glad to know the water company was proactive in making sure it was OK so our water service wouldn't be impacted.

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funonourfarm

7:05 am on Saturday, June 30, 2012

Our Holmdel mayor usually reverse 911 us for minutia, and we never got a boil water advisory.We did receive a reverse 911 from the Holmdel PD informing of a water situation. I am furious at the water company. Take a ride by and see how the pier amd pilings collapsed that sipported these mains. Ome would think that after Irene (where the house directly across was flooded to
the 2nd level)an earthquake, and so mk e massive rainstorms, that the water company would monitor such crucial structures. We pay dearlu for their service. Oh, and by the way, I always have discolored water, my whites are dingy, and the chlorine levels are higher than my pool. In fact towels get bleached out in a few months. I am in a more rural area so I guess I dont matter, they claim its safe.

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Wendy K

8:03 am on Saturday, June 30, 2012

What is a safe way to wash dishes?

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NotDifficult

8:09 am on Saturday, June 30, 2012

From the article above

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.  

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rose

9:11 am on Saturday, June 30, 2012

I would honestly wait until the problem is fixed and use paper plates until then.

People are annoying

9:34 am on Saturday, June 30, 2012

You're worried because you gave a dog tap water and there's a boil water advisory? They drink from the toilet and lick each other's butts. Oy vey.

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James Hellings

9:49 am on Saturday, June 30, 2012

My dog and I only drink bottled water anyway and as for bathing I would suggest adding Hibiclens to your body wash if you have any minor scrapes or sores. Paper or plastic plates and utensils make sense. If you are watering your tomatoes make sure to water the soil and not the fruits. ( I wish I had known this yesterday before I ate a dozen cherry tomatoes ) They are correct in saying home filters are not completely reliable but any good U.V. sterilizer such as those sold for camping will work if you have no other way to get bottled water or boil it. I am always surprised at the number of people who do not have at least a 10 day supply of clean food and water on hand at all times. James H. Fair Haven.

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TCantwell

10:08 am on Saturday, June 30, 2012

After getting the alert and reading about the problem and the nonessential use of water, why was the sprinkle system at the town soccer fields on full blast in Tinton Falls.

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Stuart

3:10 pm on Saturday, June 30, 2012

Tinton Falls uses well water for all fields.

gerlyn clark

10:17 am on Saturday, June 30, 2012

first they put clorimine in the water and all my fish died and now this! what's next? what a month with the water company!!!

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Dentss Dunnagun

1:08 pm on Saturday, June 30, 2012

As a safety precaution next time boil the fish first ...

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Mrs. Jones

3:39 pm on Saturday, June 30, 2012

My oscars died, too! It would have been nice of them to tell us before they changed the water and not after the fact. I called them up and complained and the CSR said she would relay the message to quality control. Big deal.

Michael

11:14 am on Saturday, June 30, 2012

My house runs off of a well. Does this mean I'm affected?

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Swift Loris

12:41 pm on Saturday, June 30, 2012

As I understand it, the boil-water advisory is a legally mandated PRECAUTION that is taken whenever water pressure is below normal--in other words, JUST IN CASE some bacteria get into the water. That doesn't mean you don't really need to boil your water, but it probably does mean you aren't going to get horribly sick because you drank some water before you knew it should be boiled.

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Anita

1:03 pm on Saturday, June 30, 2012

Come to Red Bank tonight and have dinner out.. As far as I know this is the ONLY town not on "boil" advisory.

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RCPhoto

1:06 pm on Saturday, June 30, 2012

I don't think Asbury Park is either.

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Anita

1:09 pm on Saturday, June 30, 2012

Lol.. two lucky towns.. Hopefully it will be busy for restaurant owners...

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Dawn Smith-Dzwil

3:33 pm on Saturday, June 30, 2012

Matawan is in the clear too . Just on water restriction.

TJMelrose

1:17 pm on Saturday, June 30, 2012

I live in Freehold Township. We have our own water company and wells. We don't get water from NJAW. We got the automated call today that we are still subject to the conservation restrictions (no lawn watering, car washing, pool filling, etc...) but we DON'T need to boil water.

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Michael Ferrell

2:36 pm on Saturday, June 30, 2012

what is really funny is all of this is caused by negligence by nj american water..... theyhad damage to the supports and brige that carry the pipes in the hurricane/tropical storm last year and it remained unfixed during this time

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Joe Ess

3:04 pm on Saturday, June 30, 2012

Asbury Park Twp. Doesnt have to conserve water I guess because they have their sprinkler systems going at the park in front of Convention Hall... Not everyone has to boil their water but we are all supposed to conserve so the supply that is tapped into other towns to help them remains viable... But the township of Asbury Park is above the law

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Kathryn Medor

5:20 pm on Saturday, June 30, 2012

This is taking my mind off the fact that entire neighborhoods in Colorado Springs area are ashes now; thousands of acres of woodland - likewise. The forests will regrow after many years.All over the state this is the case! You cry-babies are dealing with an inconvenience. What if you had to deal with leaving your home, not knowing if you'd ever see it again. What would you take with you if you were given 10 mins. to vacate and your cat was spooked by the fireman and ran off? What if all your memories were only that, 'cause you had no more wedding pictures, no more baby pictures, but you have your life and you can re-build. You people are told to buy bottled, boil from the tap, and conserve - water!! And you lose your common sense!! How many days will it be? A couple more? You'll last!! It's just an inconvenience. You'll wash clothes, dishes, cars, bodies - all in good time. Summertime TV is never that great - I'm glad I found you on facebook; some of you are a real hoot!

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par5fam

7:33 pm on Saturday, June 30, 2012

What about washing clothes... will they be stained or infected ?

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KC

12:12 am on Wednesday, August 8, 2012

I would think if you are washing whites - add bleach and you will be okay. Other stuff I would just not wash for the moment. Hopefully you have other clothes.

Sharon Helmer

9:35 pm on Saturday, June 30, 2012

Kathryn M--what happens in Colorado is tragic. What happens here in Monmouth County has nothing to do with Colorado. Get off your soap box---GET A GRIPP !!!!!!!!!

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John McC

1:17 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012

Right on Sharon! We should not have to listen to any preaching right now. This mess was preventable with proper maintenance by the Water Company!

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Kathryn Medor

7:03 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012

Sharon, John - I have you both thinking about something other than the water inconvenience. My job is done.

Laurie Lukaszyk

6:33 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012

The Borough of Manasquan is self-sufficient. We provide and treat our own water and are not affiliated with any outside water companies. The outdoor ban should not apply to the Borough on these swelteringly hot days, as we have no impact on the affected areas in any way.

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nate

9:23 am on Monday, July 2, 2012

It appears the the mobile app and patch website have conflicting stories.
The site states that for 18 of 22 towns the boil water restriction has been lifted. The mobile app says otherwise.

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Adam Hochron

9:32 am on Monday, July 2, 2012

That looks to be a glitch in our system. The restriction has been lifted for all but four towns. We're working to fix the problem with the mobile site.

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