New Jersey Herald A boil water advisory has been issued for about 25 Wantage homes that are served by Sussex Borough’s water system.
The advisory is applicable mainly to homes north of the borough’s Colesville water treatment plant, where a power outage and computer failure over the weekend caused a temporary loss of water pressure.
"The way that the water system works is we have a tank in the borough and a tank in Colesville," Sussex Borough Council President Bob Holowach said.
"Those tanks provide backup, but once you get below a certain level in the Colesville tank, you start to lose water pressure."
Borough officials said Tuesday that they hope to have the tank refilled within the next day or two.
The DEP advises those who are impacted to bring tap water to a rolling boil for one minute and allow it to cool prior to using it for drinking, cooking, preparing and washing fruits and vegetables, making ice cubes, brushing teeth, taking medications, treating minor injuries, or mixing baby formula, food, juices and drinks.
Residents are advised to keep a supply of boiled water in the refrigerator for drinking, and to keep an additional supply on hand for pets.
Residents are further advised not to swallow water while showering or bathing, and to throw away any uncooked food or beverages or ice cubes made with tap water over the weekend or Monday.
Dishes should be cleaned in a dishwasher using the hot wash and dry cycle or, if hand-washed, should be rinsed afterward with a diluted bleach solution consisting of one tablespoon of household bleach per gallon of tap water.
The advisory will be lifted once the pressure is stabilized and testing confirms that the water is again safe to drink.