Boil Water Alert Issued For Camden, New Jersey
By David Madden
Camden, N.J. (CBS) - Low water pressure levels in Camden have prompted city officials to issue an advisory Thursday for many residents to boil their water before usage.
According to Camden's Director of Public Works Patrick Keating, not everyone is covered by the boiling advisory.
"Any sections east of the Cooper River, which is the Cramer Hill and East Camden sections, are not impacted, but all the areas on the west side of the Cooper River, which is everything from North Camden into Fairview, is impacted by the boil water alert."
There are also restrictions on non-essential water usage city wide, such as sprinkling lawns or filling pools.
Officials are asking residents to conserve as much as possible, which includes not opening fire hydrants to cool off. That lowers water pressure as well and could present a fire fighting hazard.
"Folks have to find a way to cool down," Keating said. "We understand that. But opening hydrants is endangering lives.
Residents are being urged to call police if they see anyone opening a hydrant, since it is against the law no matter how hot it may get.
For additional questions and concerns, residents are being asked to call United Water customer service at 1-800-334-9781.
