Boil water advisory in effect for thousands of Camden, New Jersey, residents

The boil water advisory in Camden was lifted on Wednesday, and the water is safe to drink, officials from American Water Contract Services said.

A boil water advisory remains in effect for thousands of Camden, New Jersey, residents following a water main break Sunday night, the water company said Monday.

The water main break happened at the intersection of 9th and Jefferson streets as snow pummeled the Philadelphia region. Parts of Camden County got more than 15 inches of snow.

American Water Contract Services Group has issued a boil water advisory for customers who live south of Ferry Avenue through Collings Road, encompassing Fairview, Morgan Village, and Centerville, as well as a small portion of Waterfront South. A spokesperson for American Water said about 3,700 households are being affected by the advisory.

Repairs for the water main break have been completed, and crews are flushing the system, but the boil water advisory remains in effect until further notice.

American Water said that after the system has been completely flushed, they'll start sampling the water. That could take up to 48 to 72 hours. 

American Water Contract Services Group is also recommending these measures for people who live in the area of Camden: 

• Throw away uncooked food or beverages or ice cubes made with tap water during the day of the advisory.
• Keep boiled water in the refrigerator for drinking.
• Do not swallow water while showering or bathing.
• Rinse hand-washed dishes with a diluted bleach solution (one tablespoon of household bleach per gallon of tap water) or clean your dishes in a dishwasher using the hot wash cycle and dry cycle.
• Do not use home filtering devices in place of boiling or using bottled water; most home water filters will not provide adequate protection from microorganisms.
• Use only boiled water to treat minor injuries.
• Provide pets with drinking water that has been boiled (and cooled).

American Water and the City of Camden said it will provide updates once the advisory is lifted.