Lower Bucks County Joint Municipal Authority customers are advised to continue boiling any water they plan to consume.
The authority that runs water services for about 63,000 people in parts of Bristol Township, Falls Township, Middletown Township, and all of Tullytown Borough returned water service and pressure Friday evening after a several-hour disruption, but the authority is still working toward fulfilling requirements to make the water safe to drink.
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“In response to many questions sent through our website, it is ok to use the water to shower and wash clothes. We have started the sampling required by PADEP to lift the advisory, it will take a MINIMUM of two days to fulfill these requirements. When the results are in and PADEP allows us to lift the advisory we will update the website. In the meantime, the boil water advisory remains in full effect,” a message on the Lower Bucks County Joint Municipal Authority said Saturday.
The problems became noticeable Friday afternoon and led to fire companies bringing in tanker trucks from around Bucks County when the hydrant system wasn’t working. The system came online Friday evening.
Source said the water pressure and conditions on the swollen Delaware River are the main factors causing issues. The problems were blamed on the large amount of rain that fell from the remnants of Hurricane Ida. The authority’s managing director didn’t return a request for comment.
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The authority’s problems were causing problems for eateries that use the public water system and left many stores with limited supplies of bottled water.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offered the following tips for making water safe:
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If the water is cloudy:
- Filter it through a clean cloth, paper towel, or coffee filter OR allow it to settle.
- Draw off the clear water.
- Bring the clear water to a rolling boil for 1 minute (at elevations above 6,500 feet, boil for three minutes).
- Let the boiled water cool.
- Store the boiled water in clean sanitized containers with tight covers.
If the water is clear:
- Bring the clear water to a rolling boil for 1 minute (at elevations above 6,500 feet, boil for three minutes).
- Let the boiled water cool.
- Store the boiled water in clean sanitized containers with tight covers.
Aqua Pennsylvania, which serves part of the area and provides services throughout the area using an interconnected system, has asked customers to conserve water due to plant problems in Montgomery County.
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“The remnants of Hurricane Ida wreaked havoc throughout southeastern Pennsylvania,” said Aqua Pennsylvania President Marc Lucca. “And our thoughts and prayers are with all of the people devastated by terrible flooding, tornadoes and high winds. Our employees are working tirelessly to restore full water supply to serve the families, businesses and communities who rely on us, and we appreciate our customers’ cooperation by conserving water.”
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