UPDATE: Parts of Mount Olive Twp. remain under boil water advisory; potable water available for residents

MOUNT OLVIE TOWNSHIP, NJ (Morris County) – The Main Water System and Village Green Water System remain under a boil water advisory until further notice due to a water sample being detected E. coli within the distribution system.

The routine water samples were collected on Aug. 28 with a repeat sample collected on Aug. 30. The water department is working toward identifying any sanitary defect that may have caused the problem, flushing the system, and re-sampling the distribution system, township officials said.

Once the results from the lab are received, the advisory will be updated, township officials said.

The two areas affected are listed below:

Main Water System:

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

Village Green Water System:

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

What does this mean?

E. coli are microbes whose presence indicates that the water may be contaminated with human or animal wastes. Microbes in these wastes can cause short-term health effects, such as diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms. They may pose a special health risk for infants, young children, some of the elderly, and people with severely compromised immune systems.

These bacteria can make you sick and are especially a concern for people with weakened immune systems. Bacterial contamination can occur when increased run-off enters the drinking water source (for example, following heavy rains). It can also happen due to a break in the distribution system (pipes) or a failure in the water treatment process.

What should I do? 

• Do not drink the water without boiling it first.
• Bring all water to a rolling 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. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water.
• 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.
• Click here for further information regarding a Boil Advisory that answers questions about drinking, handwashing, brushing teeth, laundry and pet care Spanish: Click Here

What is being done? 

• We are completing a comprehensive assessment of our water system and of our monitoring and operational practices to identify and correct any causes of the contamination.
• We are increasing sampling for coliform bacteria in the distribution system to assist in determining the cause of the contamination.

“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.

For more information, contact Michael Lata at 973-584-7086 or email mlata@mtolivetwp.org. General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by bacteria and other disease-causing organisms are available from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.

Potable water is being made readily available outside of the Senior Center located at 204 Flanders-Drakestown Road. Residents are encouraged to visit the Senior Center and bring their own reusable bottle. Water will be available until the boil water advisory is lifted.