MARCH 28, 2015
MILLBURN, NEW JERSEY
A boil water advisory remains in effect for Millburn,
Maplewood and Irvington after a water main break on Friday night.
It happened on Glen Avenue in Millburn after 10 p.m. Water
gushed over Glen Avenue, Millburn Avenue and the train tracks near Millburn
station after the 24-inch main burst. NJ Transit service was temporarily halted
in the area due to the flood.
The train station was closed for safety reasons, affecting
riders on the Morris and Essex lines.
One home on Glen Avenue took on over 3 feet of water.
“When I looked out my window this car was spinning around in
circles,” said Glen Avenue resident Don Young on Saturday. His finished
basement, driveway and 3 cars were inundated with water.
“We were helpless. The water was coming here at 3,000 or
4,000 gallons per minute. What are you going to do?” he said.
American Water removed the broken 2-by-4 cast iron pipe from
beneath Glen Avenue on Saturday. They promised it would be replaced and that
water service would be restored by dinner time to 35 Millburn homes still
without water service on Saturday.
“It wasn’t a small break or a small crack it was a full blow
out,” said Peter Eschbach, a spokesman for New Jersey American Water, who said
the break could be blamed on a number of things.
“Chief among them right now are the seasonal temperatures,
being cold, low frostlines, and the fact that this pipe was so old. All it
takes is a small crack,” he said.
Don Young said American Water appears to be taking
responsibility for the damage this caused to his home, but that he was
disappointed by the town of Millburn’s response.
“In my eyes, emergency management failed,” he said, “The
fire department was not equipped to handle the situation, meaning they didn’t
know where any of the water shut offs were or anything.”
Young also says American Water was working on the main
earlier this week. The utility denies that, stating it was routine maintenance
and that it would not have caused the break.
At least six homes were evacuated. Some residents reported
having no running water.
American Water says that as a precaution Millburn, Maplewood
and Irvington residents should boil their water for at least one minute before
consuming it. If lab tests come back clean, the utility says the boil water
advisory can be lifted by tomorrow afternoon.
No injuries have been reported.
Source: pix11.com