An underground water pipe in Morris County that burst as the result of Friday’s earthquake in New Jersey was mended over the weekend, but residents are still urged to boil their tap water as a precaution, officials said Saturday.
A pipe beneath Pleasant Hill Road in Randolph Township ruptured on Friday afternoon, spewing water into the air in a scene similar to a geyser. All of the township was placed under a boil-water advisory Friday afternoon to kill bacteria potential in the supply as a result of the blast.
Township officials said Saturday the advisory would continue until Morris County Municipal Utilities Authority tested the water to ensure it’s safe to use. Officials did not say when the advisory could potentially be lifted.
Township officials Saturday the advisory was initially only for Pleasant Hill Road and homes on a handful of nearby streets, directing water to be brought to a “rolling boil” for one minute before being consumed.
It was unclear Sunday how many customers in Randolph Township were affected. The township has a population of about 26,000, according to 2022 data from the U.S. Census Bureau.
The West Morris Area YMCA said it was allowing township residents to use its showers or other water sources at its facility free of charge. The center on Friday was closed as a precaution following the quake. Randolph firefighters were also making non-potable water available to the public, township officials said.
Much of New Jersey and neighboring states felt the ground shake around 10:30 a.m. Friday. The 4.8-magnitude earthquake’s epicenter was recorded in Hunterdon County near the Ramapo Fault Line.
Township officials reported the pipe burst around 4 p.m. Friday., advising nearby residents to limit their water use until the damage could be assessed.
Photos of the pipe online show water gushing into the air from a gaping hole in the street. Portions of the road nearby were covered with a murky mixture of water and dirt.
Township officials said the authority required extra crews and concrete piping to fix the broken line. Work to repair the pipe began Friday.
After being repaired, the authority re-pressured the water supply for use, township officials said.
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Eric Conklin may be reached at econklin@njadvancemedia.com.
