Water main breaks, affects five counties

Since late Monday night, the University has followed a precautionary boil water advisory notice issued by Elizabethtown Water Company, the region's water utility authority.

The company's plant, located in Bridgewater, experienced a main break near its primary water treatment facility, according to a company press release.

Though there is no evidence that the local water supply has been contaminated, Elizabethtown Water has issued the emergency warning to five counties — Hunterdon, Middlesex, Morris, Somerset, Union and Mercer, where the University is located.

"The warning will last for several days," company spokesman Henry Patterson said yesterday. "We've been testing all day, and no contamination has been identified. The pressures have been back to normal since mid-day today."

Elizabethtown Water has not experienced a main break since September. 1999, when Hurricane Floyd hit the area, Patterson said.

"We have the current situation isolated and the system has returned to normal," Patterson said.

On campus, the Department of Dining Services has been following special precautions in preparing meals. Water is required to be either boiled or bottled.

"We've got big steam kettles to boil water and deliveries of bottled water," said Rocky and Mathey College Dining Director Steve French. "We have taken the stance that we won't use water unless it's boiled."

Food choices are more limited, French acknowledged.

"We can't offer what everyone wants, but it shouldn't be too much of an inconvenience to students or staff," French said. "The staff is going with the flow — it's part of our workday."

At worst, students will experience a temporary shortage of drinks from machines.

"We have to make juices from scratch, and other products that would normally be dispensed from machines," French said. "There are some inefficiencies."

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Dining Services Director Stu Orefice said this situation is not as severe as the 1999 hurricane emergency.

"In the past, we had to shut down the dishwasher. But this time, there is no precaution to conserve, only to boil before use," Orefice said. "We turn off all the beverage machines, make powdered drinks, purchase ice and water and clean all vegetables with boiled water."

Despite the inconvenience, the dining crew has remained cooperative, Orefice said.

"We have a very dedicated crew," he said. "It's taking more time to prepare meals, but they actually enjoy some of these events — they take pride in challenges."

According to a press release from the Princeton Borough and Township Office of Emergency Management, residents are advised to boil water for three minutes before cooking or drinking. The office also advises residents to limit water use.

In the meantime, the release maintained that bathing remains safe despite possible water discoloration.