HALEDON, New Jersey (WABC) — A series of water main breaks in Haledon closed schools and left some residents without water on Thursday.
Water mains in three different locations burst amid frigid conditions around the same time on Wednesday.
The three water mains failed around 2:30 p.m. and the old infrastructure was no match for the frigid temperatures that settled in for the week.
Manchester Regional High School and Eastern Christian High School both announced closures late Wednesday night due to the ongoing disruption.
Several homes in the area of the Church Street break are without running water while the repairs are being made.
“These crews here struggled with breaking ground because there was asphalt, cement and dirt, they’re trying to get a hold on the leak, but as you can see it’s still spraying out water,” Mayor Michael Johnson said.
A few blocks away, the break along Oxford Street was still spewing water from beneath the asphalt at 3:30 p.m. Thursday.
It left water flowing along one side of the road.
Earlier Thursday morning, a separate break on Aberdeen Court was repaired around 1 a.m., according to the mayor.
Haledon police said water main breaks are more common during cold weather, when freezing and thawing ground puts added stress on older pipes. Crews remain on scene and are continuing repairs as safely and quickly as possible.
“Old infrastructure unfortunately, and I hope now we’ll get some support from our representatives to start replacing some of these old lines,” Johnson said.
Residents experiencing little or no water pressure are being urged to use bottled water for drinking, cooking and brushing their teeth. If tap water must be used, officials recommend boiling it for at least one minute before use and limiting water use to essential needs only.
The Haledon Senior Center is open as a warming shelter, with fresh drinking water available for residents who need it. Anyone planning to use the shelter is asked to check in first at the Haledon Police Department.
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