HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. (Warren County) — The Hackettstown Municipal Utilities Authority has lifted the boil water advisory issued earlier this week after testing confirmed the public water supply is safe for use.
The advisory was lifted at 2:39 p.m. Wednesday after the HMUA received results from six water samples collected throughout the distribution system on July 28. According to the utility, all six samples tested negative for E. coli. The results were submitted to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, which approved lifting the advisory.
The advisory had been issued on July 27 after E. coli was detected in raw water from Well No. 4.
Although the advisory has been lifted, Well No. 4 remains completely disconnected from the water system. The HMUA said it has begun the process of deactivating and permanently abandoning the well.
In a notice to customers, the utility said it is no longer necessary to boil water before use. However, customers are encouraged to take several precautionary steps, including:
- Running faucets for three to five minutes to flush service lines and interior plumbing.
- Emptying and cleaning automatic ice makers and water chillers.
- Draining and refilling hot water heaters if the temperature is set below 113 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Regenerating water softeners or replacing filter cartridges according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.
- Draining and refilling water reservoirs in tall buildings, where applicable.
The HMUA apologized for the inconvenience and thanked customers for their patience during the advisory. Residents with questions are encouraged to contact the utility or visit hmua.com for additional information.
