Main Break Cuts Water to Morlot Avenue Residents, Detours Traffic

UPDATE: Water Pipe Repair Beyond Borough's Capabilities; Private Contractor Brought In

A water main break Thursday on Morlot Avenue near the train tracks between Banta Place and Burke Place has left dozens of residents without water and snarled traffic in the area south of Fair Lawn High School.

As of 4:40 p.m., crews had yet to locate the exact location of the break, but Paul Turton, the supervisor of water distribution, said based on test holes his crew had drilled he believed the break likely occurred in the vicinity of 19-09 Morlot Avenue, just west of the train tracks.

Approximately 50 residents on Morlot Avenue between Banta Place and 17th Street, Boyd Avenue and Bryant Place will be without water until about 6 a.m. Friday, borough engineer Ken Garrison said. Turton had initially estimated a quicker turnaround, but crews have run into problems with a high voltage electric line in the area and are waiting for Public Service crews to get out to the scene to assist, Garrison said.

The few dozen affected homeowners are being served boil water notices and should not consume any tap water without boiling it until further notice from the borough, Garrison said. They need not boil water not intended for consumption, he said.

Once the break has been repaired and the water begins flowing again to those affected homes, the borough must first test it to confirm its safety before lifting the boli water advisory, Garrison said.

Residents on surrounding streets who lost water pressure temporarily or experienced brown water, but then got their pressure back, are safe to drink the water, he said.

Fair Lawn police have closed Morlot Avenue between Banta and 17th and coned off numerous side streets near the high school to form a safe work zone in which the water crews can operate.

Water department employee Marty Peterson, who was on scene drilling test holes, said a resident had stopped by the water department building around 1 p.m. to report the break. Water had been flowing down Morlot Avenue until just after 4 p.m. when it was finally shut down so crews could begin their work.

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