DRINKING WATER WARNING – BOIL YOUR WATER BEFORE USING

Water delivered by PVWC may not be safe to drink.

Passaic Valley Water Commission (PVWC) has issued a boil water advisory for customers in Passaic, Paterson, and parts of Clifton and Woodland Park (See Map).

A BOIL WATER ADVISORY remains in effect due to excessive run-off into the New Street Reservoir from the remnants of Hurricane Ida. It has been determined that water may not be safe for consumption as of 9/2/2021. A potential or actual threat to the quality of water being provided to you currently exists.  As a precaution, we are implementing a system wide Boil Water Advisory until remedial measures have be completed at the Reservoir and testing of the water supply has determined the drinking water is safe to drink. .

What Should I do? What does this mean to me?

EFFECTIVE 9/2/2021 AND UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE DO NOT CONSUME THE WATER WITHOUT BOILING IT FIRST 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; drinking water for pets and washing dishes until further notice.  Bring all water to a rolling boil for one minute, and let it cool before using, or use bottled water. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water. Ice or any beverages prepared with tap water after 9/1/2021 should be discarded.

The following measures are also recommended:

• Throw away uncooked food or beverages or ice cubes made with tap water during the day of the advisory;
• Keep boiled water in the refrigerator for drinking;
• Do not swallow water while showering or bathing;
• Rinse hand-washed dishes with a diluted bleach solution (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 use home filtering devices in place of boiling or using bottled water; most home water filters will not provide adequate protection from microorganisms;
• Use only boiled water to treat minor injuries;
• Provide pets with drinking water that has been boiled (and cooled).

Activities that DO require boiled or bottled water:

• Drinking, including making coffee or tea, or mixing powder drinks.
• Washing food or produce that isn’t cooked or baked.
• Mixing baby formula.For formula-fed or bottle-fed infants, sterilize bottles, nipples, and pump parts after you wash them with soapy tap water between uses.
• Adding water to food without cooking or baking.
• Brushing teeth and gargling.
• Making ice.
• Cleaning food contact surfaces(examples: cutting boards or countertops).
• Eye washing or rinsing contact lenses. Contacts should be cleaned with appropriate contact lens solution. Hands should be washed with soap and water for 20 seconds and dried thoroughly before putting in contact lenses.
• Taking medications with water.
• Cleaning wounds or sores. The organisms of greatest concern need to be ingested to cause illness. However, as a precaution use boiled or bottled water. People with compromised immune systems are at most risk and should consult their health care provider.
• Providing drinking water for pets(optional). Pets have some innate protection from this type of water contamination. However, some people will prefer to use boiled water for their pets to drink.

Activities that DO NOT require boiled water:

• Showering and bathing. Do not allow water in mouth. Consider giving infants and young children a sponge bath to reduce the chance of them swallowing water.
• Shaving.
• Washing dishes, utensils, and cookware.
  • Hand wash with soapy tap water and rinse with boiled water.
  • Household dishwashers generally are safe to use if: The water reaches a final rinse temperature of at least 150 degrees Fahrenheit (66°Celsius), or the dishwater has a sanitizing cycle.
  • To wash dishes by hand:
    • Wash and rinse the dishes as you normally would using hot water.
    • In a separate basin, add 1 teaspoon of unscented household liquid bleach for each gallon of warm water.
    • Soak the rinsed dishes in the water for at least one minute.
    • Let the dishes air dry completely before using again.
• Laundry, general cleaning, and mopping.
• Washing hands. Use soap, scrub for at least 20 seconds, rinse, and towel dry vigorously.
• Bathing pets.
• Watering plants/irrigating. During this boil water event, rinse all produce with boiled or bottled water before eating.
• Flushing toilets.

Spanish Version: Actividades que SÍ requieren agua hervida o embotellada / Actividades que NO requieren agua hervida

FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions

Home treatment devices that do not boil or chemically disinfect the water with acceptable disinfectants are not considered reliable alternatives to boiling the water.

What is being done?

PVWC continues to work on resolving the issues of contamination at the New Street Reservoir. The valve at the reservoir is being manually operated and the reservoir is being spilled over to wash out the dirty water. However, the water in the reservoir remains unsafe for consumption. The reservoir will remain inoperable until further notice while PVWC works to remove the contaminated water. Follow up sampling will continue to monitor if the water is properly treated and back to safe water quality standards.

Of the 15 follow-up samples collected in the distribution system on September 2, 2021, one sample was positive for coliform bacteria. The contaminated water near the positive sample site was flushed out of the distribution system by our field crews and subsequent samples were negative for coliform bacteria. PVWC will continue enhanced monitoring in the system and testing for microbial contamination through the duration of the Boil Water Advisory.

Please continue to boil your water or use bottled water until you are notified. This advisory will remain in effect until repairs are completed and testing shows the water quality to be safe. 

Bottled Water is being provided by the towns of Paterson, Passaic, and Clifton. Bottled water distribution site locations are listed below. Please contact your local municipality for more information.

A Water Delivery Hotline has been set up for our eldery or home bound customers

Call 862-304-6232

M-F 7:30am a 6:30pm

Information about self pick up water distribution sites can be found at www.pvwc.com/bwa_sept2021

*This hotline service is ONLY for elderly and home bound customers*

Se estableció una línea directa de distribución de agua para nuestros clientes mayores o que deben permanecer en su hogar

Llame al 862-304-6232

L-V 7:30am a 6:30pm

Puede encontrar información sobre los puntos de recogida de agua en www.pvwc.com/bwa_sept2021

*Este servicio de línea directa es SOLO para los clientes mayores o que deben permanecer en su hogar*

Click Here for Water Distribution Sites

For more information, maps, and updates, visit PVWC.com or call 973-340-4300.

General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes are available from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.

Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.

Click Here For A Printable Map

Click Here For A List of the Street Names

This notice is being sent to you by PVWC. State Water System ID#: NJ1605002

Date distributed:9/8/2021.

Date updated:9/21/2021