HOBOKEN, NJ – Property owners can apply for to United Water for compensation for flood damage caused by a 30-inch main break Thursday, but not for a far more damaging 12-inch break that occurred earlier that day, according to company officials.
Mayor Dawn Zimmer said today that the 30-inch water-main that was ruptured by a contractor last Thursday was not marked properly before the contractor started digging.
Water gushed from the 30 inch-main after a contractor working with PSE&G hit the main at a construction site associated with the 14th Street Viaduct renovation around 11 a.m. at 14th Street and Willow Avenue, county officials said. A contractor working for United Water had incorrectly marked the pavement, city officials said.
Hoboken residents were left with low-water pressure city-wide Thursday, and left some residents without any water for short periods of time, officials said. The break also caused low water pressure in the Newport section of Jersey City.
United Water is conducting a full investigation to find out exactly what led to the break, Zimmer said.
Residents or businesses that suffered a loss as a result of the 30-inch water main can submit a claim to United Water by calling their claims specialist Deborah Hummel at (201) 750-3408, Zimmer said.
But there was an earlier water main break at of a 12-inch pipe at Willow Avenue and 12th Street, which occurred around 3 a.m. last Thursday and created a sinkhole that swallowed a car. This break also resulted in the flooding of basements in the area.
United Water officials said yesterday they are not liable to any damages incurred by residents related to this break because it was a "naturally occurring event.”
Steve Goudsmith, a spokesman for United Water, said that property owners should seek compensation for damages from the 12-inch water main break from their insurance companies.
“Fluctuating temperatures” in the spring from cold nights and warmer days can cause movement in the ground and can cause aging pipes to break, he said.
Two other breaks were smaller. On Friday a water service pipe broke near 12th Street and Park Avenue, only affected residents at 1313 Park Ave., officials said.
A fourth break of a 8-inch main at Jefferson Street between 8th and 9th streets was reported around 7:30 a.m. Saturday affected just two properties officials said.
The boil water advisory was lifted Saturday afternoon after laboratory results showed that the water was free of bacteriological contamination.
United Water Hoboken provides water service to approximately 33,000 residents in Hoboken. The company operates the City's water system through a contract agreement with the Hoboken.
Zimmer said the City will also be submitting a claim for the city's expenses.
Residents can report future breaks by calling (201) 487 0011.