Boil Water Advisory Issued For Morris County Community

MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — Local officials in Mount Olive and the surrounding area issued a "boil water alert" on Tuesday after E. coli was detected in two water systems during recent sampling.

Officials reported that samples from both the Main Water System and the Village Green Water System tested positive for E. coli.

E. coli are microbes indicating that the water may be contaminated with human or animal waste. These microbes can cause short-term health effects, such as diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches and other symptoms.

Residents who get their water through either of those systems have been advised to boil their water before use.

The areas affected are listed below:

Main Water System:

• Cloverhill Development
• Flanders Crossing
• Regency at Flanders and Marveland Crescent Development
• Overlook Apartments
• Main Street and Park Place
• Mountain Avenue
• Laurel Drive
• Chestnut Way and Red Maple Lane

Village Green Water System:

• Village Green Apartments and Stores
• Mountain Ridge Development
• Lucas Lane, Old Budd Lake Road, and Ringenbach Lane

E. coli can pose a particular health risk for infants, young children, the elderly, and those with severely compromised immune systems. These bacteria can cause illness and are especially concerning for individuals with weakened immune systems.

Contamination can occur due to increased runoff entering drinking water sources, such as after heavy rains, or from a break in the distribution system (pipes) or a failure in the water treatment process.

Officials released the following guidelines for residents:

• Do not drink the water without boiling it first.
• Bring all water to a boil, let it boil for one minute and let it cool before using, or use bottled water.
• Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes, and food preparation until further notice.
• If you experience any of these symptoms and they persist, you may want to seek medical advice. People at increased risk should seek advice from their healthcare providers about drinking this water.

“We will inform you when tests show no bacteria are present and you no longer need to boil your water and/or use bottled water. We anticipate resolving the problem within a week’s timeframe,” township officials said.