Camden Water Scare: Residents Told To Boil Tap After Main Break

A broken water main near 9th and Jefferson streets turned an ordinary Sunday into a serious headache for parts of Camden, as officials put several neighborhoods under a boil-water advisory. The precaution covers areas south of Ferry Avenue through Collings Road, including Fairview, Morgan Village and Centerville, along with portions of Waterfront South. Crews moved in to repair the damaged line while residents were told to boil tap water or use bottled water for drinking, cooking and brushing teeth until testing confirms the system is safe.

What officials said

According to NBC10 Philadelphia, a New Jersey American Water spokesperson confirmed that the break occurred at the intersection of 9th and Jefferson streets and stressed that the advisory applies only to the listed neighborhoods. The station also pointed residents to the city’s water-services page for continuing updates.

Why breaks have been climbing this winter

The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that the region’s recent Arctic cold has been punishing water mains and driving up the number of breaks across the Philadelphia area this winter. After prolonged stretches of sub-freezing temperatures, pipes are more likely to fail, and utilities around the metro area have been dealing with an unusually high number of incidents this season.

How to keep drinking water safe

New Jersey American Water’s boil advisory guidance tells customers to bring tap water to a rolling boil for one minute before using it for drinking or preparing food, or to stick with bottled water instead. The utility also advises residents to throw out any ice made with tap water during the day of the advisory. Once the notice is lifted, customers are urged to run cold-water faucets for several minutes and flush ice makers and water chillers to clear out any discolored water.

Where to get updates

Residents looking for the latest notices and contact information can go to the City of Camden’s water services page, which lists New Jersey American Water’s Camden operations center and emergency phone lines. People with immediate concerns are encouraged to call the utility or the city contacts listed there for help and guidance.