Water Main Break Occurs In Lincroft Section Of Middletown

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — Some residents in the Lincroft section of Middletown woke up Thursday morning to no water, low water pressure or discolored, cloudy tap water, after there was a water main break overnight.

The water main broke around midnight Wednesday near 4 Joseph Drive in Lincroft, according to a spokeswoman for NJ American Water.

As of 10 a.m. Thursday, water service to all customers has now been restored, she said. However, the issue will not be entirely restored until approximately 5 p.m. Thursday, NJ American Water said in this alert on their website.

"We cannot pinpoint an exact cause, but water mains can break for a number of reasons. During the colder months, especially now with the low temperatures we’ve been seeing, freezing and thawing of soil can create movement underground that can put tension on water pipes," said NJ American Water spokeswoman Erin Banes. "That is why 'main break season' typically starts in October and continues through the winter."

At 9 a.m. Thursday, NJ American Water posted the following to their website: "Our crews are making emergency repairs due to a main break beginning on January 23 in Middletown. Repairs are expected to take approximately 8 hours to complete."

"When work is completed, you may experience temporary changes in your water. For discoloration, run cold water at the lowest level of your house. For cloudy water, run water at the highest level of your house. The condition should clear after 3 to 5 minutes of running water. If you are a landlord and water service is in your name, please inform your tenants so they are aware of this impact to their water service. In keeping with American Water’s focus on safety for both customers and employees, please do not approach our crews while they work."