A "boil water advisory" has been lifted for 18 towns, but New Jersey American Water customers in Aberdeen, Holmdel, Middletown and Highlands are still being asked to boil drinking water before consumption. 

In a news release around 5 p.m. Sunday evening, New Jersey American Water, in cooperation with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, and the Monmouth County Office of Emergency Management said it has lifted the precautionary boil water advisory for 18 of the 22 municipalities in Monmouth County which had been under the advisory since a bridge holding three large water mains collapsed at the company’s Swimming River Water Treatment Plant last Friday. 

Until further notice, NJAW customers in the Holmdel, Middletown, Aberdeen and Highlands should continue to bring tap water to a rolling boil for one minute and allow to cool before using for consumption; drinking, ice cubes, washing vegetables and fruit, and for brushing teeth. NJAW said people should continue to boil water until notified that the water quality is acceptable. 

The following towns only are no longer advised to boil water prior to consumption: 
• Allenhurst Borough
• Deal Borough
• Eatontown Borough
• Fair Haven Borough
• Lake Como Borough
• Little Silver Borough
• Loch Arbor Village
• Long Branch City
• Monmouth Beach Borough
• Neptune Township
• Ocean Township
• Oceanport Borough
• Rumson Borough
• Sea Bright Borough
• Shrewsbury Borough 
• Shrewsbury Township
• Tinton Falls Borough 
• West Long Branch Borough 

Outdoor water use ban continues
As part of Monmouth County’s declared Water Emergency, all New Jersey American Water customers in Monmouth County remain under an outdoor water use ban. “Water pressure in the system is stabilizing right now, so it is critical that everyone stop all outdoor water use including watering lawns, shrubs or gardens, filling swimming pools, or washing cars,” said Stephen Schmitt, vice president of Operations, New Jersey American Water. “In fact, under the county’s declared water emergency, outdoor water use in Monmouth County is illegal right now, and for good reason.” Recognizing the important nature of the issue, Governor Christie, at his press conference yesterday, committed the support of local authorities to enforce the ban. 

“We’d like to thank our customers for their conservation efforts thus far, and the cooperation of state, local officials, and emergency management personnel as we work through these issues,” said Schmitt. 


For updates to the water crisis, customers can visit newjerseyamwater.com or facebook.com/newjerseyamericanwater.