Paterson, NJ Faces 3rd Water Main Break This Month, Residents Under Boil Water Advisory

Paterson Water Main Crisis

• 💧 18,000 residents in Paterson are currently without water or experiencing low water pressure due to a major water main break.
• ⚠️ Residents in Fair Lawn are under a boil water advisory.
• 📌 This marks the third water main break in Paterson within the past month, highlighting a significant infrastructure issue.

Repair Efforts and Challenges

• 🛠️ Crews are working on a 42-inch pipe that ruptured on North First Street and Arch, affecting the Riverside section of the city.
• ⏳ The recent break occurred just days after repairs were completed on a rupture near Hinchcliffe Stadium.
• 🕰️ The executive director of the Pake Valley Water Commission stated that isolating the 120- to 140-year-old pipe was a complex process, taking significant time.

Causes and Timeline

• 🔬 A pin-sized hole was detected, with the cause likely a combination of the pipe's extreme age and recent seismic activity.
• ⏳ Previous repairs for a water main break took over a week to restore service to multiple communities.
• 🙏 The hope is to restore water to residents by the end of the current day, though it may take longer than anticipated.