Several Water Main Breaks Reported in Strathmore Over Weekend
There were two breaks in the F section as well as one in the N section, NJ American Water officials say.
The Strathmore section of Aberdeen Township experienced several water main breaks over the weekend, including two in the "F" section and one in the "N" section, according to Peter Eschbach, the director of communications and external affairs for New Jersey American Water.
As of 9:30 a.m., Eschbach said, all of the breaks had been repaired except for the one in the "N" section, which is expected to be completed this afternoon.
Eschbach explained that the aging cement pipes below the neighborhood were originally installed in the 1960s.
"It has been causing a number of problems over the years and we've been dealing with it," he said.
When a pipe breaks, he explained, valves on each side of the break have to be located so crew members can turn off the water. Once the water is turned off the crew has to determine exactly where the break is so as to reduce the amount of digging that has to be done.
Then, Eschbach said, the pipe is either patched or replaced, depending its condition. The process takes several hours.
This weekend on Ferland Lane in Strathmore, however, almost immediately after the first break was repaired a second one occurred.
"Pipe segments failed that were close to each other. All these people were out of water for several hours. Then when they thought O.K. the water is coming back, another segment nearby broke and [the crews] had to repeat the process," Eschbach said.
New Jersey American Water is working to revamp the water infrastructure across the state.
"We spend hundred of millions across the state just trying to replace infrastructure," he said. "The infrastructure is aging faster than we can replace it and obviously everyone wants to keep their rates down."
Last year, the Board of Public Utilities approved NJAW for a distribution system improvement program. According to Eschbach, participation in the program will help the utility company accelerate improvements to priority areas like Strathmore.
Tell Us: Did you experience any of the water main breaks this weekend?
F.L.
4:40 pm on Monday, January 14, 2013
They failed to say the water was out for a majority of time between January 11 till January 14th. This problem has been ongoing for years as their records will show. All breaks take place in the same places and will continue to. This company will never fix the problem and the town of Aberdeen is also at fault for lack of leadership. This town is slowly losing its value.
Patricia D
9:56 pm on Monday, January 14, 2013
I agree with you 100%.
Food for Thought
9:19 pm on Monday, January 14, 2013
Weather Changes seem to be causing the problem
Anthony T.
9:05 am on Tuesday, January 15, 2013
"The infrastructure is aging faster than we can replace it and obviously everyone wants to keep their rates down."
And every company wants to keep their profits up. As far as I am concerned, I pay for delivery as well as them being able to maintain that service. For years they collected money and gambled that the current infrastructure is sufficient.
Now they cry the customer has to pay more when it fails. Same goes for all of these utilities.
I'd accept paying more for service when they follow a responsible upgrade plan. The same infrastructure has been in place for about 50 years, that is the fault of utility. Over the decades they decided to collect profits and not upgrade, the customer should not be solely responsible.
Unfortunately I don't think there's any government entity likely to side with the customer on this.
Peter C. Laudati
9:59 am on Tuesday, January 15, 2013
For the reporter, the article should be updated to reflect the two water main breaks we had in the I-section on Ivanhoe Lane over the weekend. One on Thursday, and one on Sunday. We were without water too for two days.
Aberdeen Township posted on their Facebook page that NJAW has agreed to replace the infrastructure in 5-6 years versus a previous plan of 15 years. They said a schedule would be published soon. Even 5-6 years is too long to wait given we have been subjected to these repeated Strathmore water main breaks for the past 3-4 years now.
Many of Strathmore's streets have been paved and redone with new curbs over the past couple of years for the first time since the development was constructed. Now all the streets and sidewalks are torn up with ugly patches in place that will likely never be fixed. Lloyd Road between Church & the Parkway was redone beautifully in 2009. The road is already almost worse than it was due to all the water main patches. :(
kenneth J Costello
1:55 pm on Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Kudos to the Firefighters of Aberdeen who gave there time on Sunday to assist the workers from NJAW in getting debrie flushed from the Water main,this cost the tax payers 0 dollars. Lt Ken
Williamhorton, Jr.
11:05 am on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
The problem is with their equipment. When the water pressure surges up and down I can expect a main break somewhere. They need to check their pressure regulating valves which is causing the surges/water hammer. Every time they have a break you can expect two more after the water goes back on.