An estimated 200,000 people in Paterson, Haledon, North Haledon and Prospect Park were without water for a fourth day on Monday as a crew struggled to repair a pipeline break at Hinchliffe Stadium in the city.
Water was still gushing from the 30-inch pipe during a 12 p.m. press conference at Hinchliffe Stadium as mayors of the four municipalities asked residents for patience as the crisis dragged on.
“Now is not the time to point fingers. Now is the time for all hands to be on deck,” Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh said.
Jim Mueller, the executive director of the Passaic Valley Water Commission (PVWC), said a crew had been working around the clock since the pipe burst early Friday morning. But as of noon Monday they still hadn’t detected the source of the leak.
Mueller said the PVWC had activated two pumping stations in Paterson to increase water pressure and re-charge the lines. The goal is to get the water to customers as soon as possible, “but unfortunately, I can’t give you a timeline,” he said.
Paterson residents who live near Hinchliffe said the water pressure dropped around 3:30 a.m. Friday. The pressure drop spread to neighboring Haledon, North Haledon and Prospect Park, prompting officials to scramble over the weekend to provide water to residents.
A boiled water advisory in all four municipalities remains in effect. Residents are advised to boil water for at least 60 seconds for drinking, cooking, brushing teeth, washing dishes. Bottled water can be used as an alternative.
North Haledon Mayor Randy George said his phone rang all weekend with residents complaining that they had no water. The town set up water distribution in public works yard, and that will continue, he said.
“North Haledon has never experienced anything like this before,” George said. “Residents are terribly upset. They’ve been calling round the clock the they don’t have water.”
The Passaic County Department of Health has ordered all retail establishments affected by the water main break that prepare food to shut down.
Low water pressure raised concerns about fire. Paterson Fire Chief Alejandro Alicea said the department had trucks that could transport water to a fire. And if necessary, the fire department could draw water from the Passaic River or reservoirs, he said.
“We are evolving with the situation,” he said. Alicea said there has been an “uptick” in the number of cases of heat-related illness handled by the ambulance squad, but he wasn’t aware of any deaths.
A water truck in the rear of the Prospect Park municipal building.Richard Cowen/NJ Advance Media for NJ.Com
George said the North Haledon Fire Department also has tanks of water that can be brought to the scene of an emergency. “The chief has assured me we can fight any fire,” George said.
But for residents, there’s a sudden scramble for water with daytime temperatures approaching 90 degrees.
Vanessa Ramos is one of thousands of people who have been without water since 4 a.m. Friday. She pushed a baby carriage filled with jugs of water up Albion Avenue near Hinchliffe Stadium on Monday. Ramos says she filled the jugs at her job about a mile away.
“Luckily, my job had water,” she said. “It’s just tap water, not drinking water.”
Vanessa Ramos pushes a baby carriage filled with jugs of water up Albion Avenue near Hinchliffe Stadium with her son, Ethereal.Richard Cowen
Ramos says she is reluctant to use the showers installed at the nearby high school. “We have a lot of homeless and a lot of people who have substance abuse issues,” she said.
Stewart Smith, a Paterson resident who lives near Hinchliffe Stadium, said he’s been boiling water and using it to rinse dishes and clean himself, but he hasn’t been able to take a shower.
“Well, it’s a little stressful, you know, mainly the issue is with the sanitary issue,” he said. “As far as drinking water, that’s not a big issue, we can always get drinking water. But the other issue, with the sanitary part is the biggest problem.”
All four municipalities will continue to distribute bottled water at the following locations:
Paterson: Ralph Marcantonio Park, North 8th Street and Oxford Street, daily until 9 p.m. Proof of residency required.
Water and showers are also available at John F. Kennedy High School.
Residents can refill their water jugs at the outdoor tap at BD Supermarket, 100 Sherwood Avenue.
Shut-ins may call the Paterson City Hall to arrange delivery of bottled water. 973-321-1250.
Haledon: Water is available daily at 83 Roe Street. Shut-ins can arrange for a water delivery by calling the police department at 973-790-4444.
North Haledon: Bottled water is available at the DPW yard. Shut-ins can arrange delivery by calling the police department at 973-423-1111.
Prospect Park: Bottled water available at borough hall, 106 Brown Avenue. The borough is working on getting portable showers at that location, Mayor Mohamed T. Khairullah said. Shut-ins can arrange for delivery by calling the police department at 973-790-7900.
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