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The advisory was issued to Veolia customers in Cliffside Park, Edgewater, Fairview, Fort Lee, Leonia, Ridgefield and Palisades Park, the company said on Thursday, July 21.
E. coli was confirmed in samples taken July 19 and 20, following a water main break at the Ridgefield plant, the company said.
What should you do?
- Bring all water to a boil, let it boil for one minute and let it cool before using, or use bottled water. Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes, food preparation, and provided to pets until further notice. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water.
What's being done?
"Veolia is continuously monitoring and testing the system and we will inform you as soon as the boil water advisory is lifted," the company said.
E. coli are bacteria whose presence indicates that the water may be contaminated with human or animal wastes. Human pathogens in these wastes can cause short-term effects, such as diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms. They may pose a greater health risk for infants, young children, the elderly, and people with severely compromised immune systems.
These bacteria can make you sick and are especially a concern for people with weakened immune systems. Bacterial contamination can occur when increased run-off enters the drinking water source (for example, following heavy rains). It can also happen due to a break in the distribution system (pipes) or a failure in the water treatment process.
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