Repair operations on a 30-inch water main break in Paterson were expected to last through Saturday and “possibly” Sunday morning, city officials said.

The pipe, which supplies water to Paterson, Prospect Park, Haledon and North Haledon, broke early Friday.

A boil water advisory went into immediate effect throughout Paterson, with the city saying it would remain in force “until further notice.” Hours later, the advisory was expanded to Prospect Park.

In a social media update around 7 a.m. on Saturday, the city said that the repair was “more complicated than expected.”

“Staff are working around the clock to resolve the problem as quickly and safely as possible,” the city said.

Residents were advised to boil all water intended for drinking, cooking, brushing teeth, washing dishes and making ice for at least a minute before use.

Bottled water should be used if boiling was not possible, officials said.

Free bottled water was being distributed by the Passaic Valley Water Commission at Hillford Park on Saturday afternoon. Proof of residency in Paterson or Prospect Park is required.

The city said it would be announcing the opening a comfort station to help impacted residents. The comfort station will offer portable toilets and “other essential accommodations for residents experiencing prolonged water outages,” the statement said.

Some homes would continue to have low or no water pressure as a result of the ongoing problem, or discolored water, the city said. It asked residents experiencing those issues to call 973-340-4300 with reports or questions.

The cause of the break remained under investigation Saturday, but Mayor Andre Sayegh noted at a news conference on Friday that pipes in the area were “hundreds of years old.”

Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription.

AJ McDougall may be reached at amcdougall@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on X at @oldmcdougall.

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.