An advisory issued earlier in the week for all of Camden, NJ west of the Cooper River to boil water before usage was rescinded Saturday.
Neighborhoods no longer under the boil water alert include North Camden, Parkside, Whitman Park, Lanning Square, Downtown, Cooper Grant, Bergen Square, Gateway, Central Waterfront, Waterfront South, Liberty Park, Centerville, Morgan Village, and Fairview.
“I want to thank our residents for their patience, understanding, and cooperation throughout the past few days,” Camden Mayor Dana L. Redd said in a statement released Saturday. “Our residents have heeded our calls to refrain from turning on fire hydrants, restricting non-essential water use, and boiling their water. I urge residents in the affected neighborhoods to continue boiling any water that will be used for consumption until further notice.”
Officials say that the low water pressure was brought about by residents opening fire hydrants to try and cool off from the heat wave that scorched the area earlier this week.
Cooper University Hospital brought in a portable tanker truck to boost its water supply, while Rutgers-Camden was forced to temporarily relocate 200 summer students. They’ve since been allowed to return to the dorms.
Officials told residents that boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing your teeth and cooking. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water.
Authorities asked resident not to turn on fire hydrants. Opening hydrants is illegal and jeopardizes public safety because it lowers water pressure.
