Streets Remain Closed And 'Boil Water' Advisory Updated In Hoboken Wednesday

HOBOKEN, NJ — The "boil water" advisory in Hoboken remains in effect Wednesday.

As of 6 a.m., the city said, Veolia Water crews are still performing additional repairs on the 12” water main near Garden and Newark Streets. Newark Street remains closed between Washington Street and Park Avenue, and Garden Street is closed from First Street to Observer Highway.

Repairs to an 8” water main on Ninth Street between Garden and Bloomfield Streets are complete, the city said. Ninth Street has reopened to vehicular traffic.

Hoboken remains under a Boil Water Advisory until further notice.

"Residents may experience discoloration and possible sediment due to the repairs and associated pressure fluctuations," the city said. "Residents who experience discoloration or sediment should flush tap water on cold until it runs clear before boiling."

The Boil Water Advisory was issued due to low water pressure, which dropped below the acceptable threshold and could allow for the presence of harmful microbes in the water system. Microbes in drinking water can cause illness and could pose a special health risk for infants, some elderly residents, and people with severely compromised immune systems.

For more information, customers can visit mywater.veolia.us or call Veolia customer service at 800-422-0141.

Water distribution site opens at 7 a.m.

While residents can boil their water for consumption, the city has made drinking water available for pickup at three distribution sites. The distribution sites will open at 7 a.m. at the following locations:

• Monroe Gardens, 221 Jackson Street

Why Are There So Many Breaks?

Some parts of Hoboken’s water system are more than 100 years old, the city noted. As cast-iron pipes age, they become brittle and are more prone to break from changes in temperature, pressure fluctuations, or vibrations.

Parts of the system have been upgraded over the years and are still being upgraded.

The city noted, "Beginning in 1994, the City of Hoboken sold the rights to the water system until 2024. A 30-year revenue stream of approximately $240 million was sold to United Water (now Veolia) in exchange for $13.2 million dollars in one-time payments. That former agreement required Veolia to make almost no proactive investment in Hoboken’s water infrastructure. In the past two plus decades, only $350,000 per year was invested in the system."

of Hoboken’s water system are more than 100 years old, the city has noted. As cast-iron pipes age, they become brittle and are more prone to break from changes in temperature, pressure fluctuations, or vibrations.

In May of 2022, water crews found a pipe from 1890 during street work in Hoboken (see the pipe embossed with "1890" here.)

Parts of the system have been upgraded over the years and are still being upgraded.

Beginning in 1994, the city of Hoboken sold the rights to the water system until 2024, the city noted on Tuesday.

A 30-year revenue stream of approximately $240 million was sold to United Water (now Veolia) in exchange for $13.2 million dollars in one-time payments.

"That former agreement required Veolia to make almost no proactive investment in Hoboken’s water infrastructure," the city said. "In the past two plus decades, only $350,000 per year was invested in the system."

In May of 2019, the city and then-Suez entered into a new water service contract investing at least $33 million in water infrastructure upgrades through 2034. The amended agreement established a new public water utility on July 1, 2019.

The city's Water Main Replacement Project has already replaced over 25,000 linear feet (nearly five miles) of aging water mains since 2016, the city said. By the end of 2025, that total will grow to approximately 29,000 linear feet, the city said.

The city plans another 12,000 linear feet by 2030, representing nearly 20 percent of Hoboken’s entire water main system, the city said.