Due to updates in the water system as part of the street preservation project, the Hillsdale Board of Public Utilities issued a boil water advisory on Tuesday for the area of Garden Street between Mead Street and Hillsdale Street, according to the department’s Facebook page.
A boil water advisory is put into place when the pressure in the drinking water system drops below 20 pounds per square inch, which may allow something to enter the system, according to Bill Briggs, the Hillsdale BPU water and wastewater superintendent.
“The advisory lasts at least 48 hours from the time the first water sample for testing is taken,” Briggs said.
Testing mandates two consecutive samples be taken 24 hours apart. If coliform bacteria is found, more testing may be required, Briggs said.
The BPU also shut off the water in the same area for 48 hours on Aug. 30 because of a water main tie in a construction project.
The water shut-off affected some local businesses, like Handmade, at 78 Hillsdale St. which was unable to prepare food due to unsafe water. The sandwich shop reopened on Sept. 1.
Derek Spiteri, the owner of Handmade, expressed frustration at the short notice the shop was given. He was told less than 24 hours in advance of the boil notice, which forced him to close his shop for the next three days.
“I’m not trying to badmouth anyone, but there was zero communication,” Spiteri said. “I was pretty blindsided.”
Although the water is safe to use for showering and washing clothes, it should be boiled before drinking or cooking with it, Briggs said.
More boil notices are also on the way.
“Water connections are yet to be be made at the intersection of Oak and Mead Streets and on Union Street at Mead and Garden,” Briggs said. “These will likely require advisories.”