Crews spent all day on Clinton and 5th streets in Hoboken on Tuesday repairing a 12-inch water main break. Service was restored just before noon, but repairs went on into the evening.
Residents say they see water main breaks quite often living in Hoboken and it’s expected with some of the pipes being over 100 years old.
"It’s an old pipe, gotta replace the pipes. We need better water,” says resident Mark Hillman.
And the city has had a plan of action in place since 2019 but in the meantime, residents can continue to see issues like Tuesday morning’s water main break, where residents like James Wallington woke up for work with no water.
“There was just a little trickle, just enough to brush your teeth. It’s very inconvenient,” says Wallington.
The 12-inch water main burst sometime around 5 a.m., leaving some 400 people without water and the whole city with low pressure. The roads were flooded as if there was heavy rainfall.
Hoboken has contracted a deal with Veolia Water for $33 million in water infrastructure upgrades through 2034.
To date, 11% of the city’s water system has been replaced. The next phase to replace another 6,000 feet of pipe starts next year with a goal of 25% by 2034.
Right now, it’s unclear when the work will be wrapped up on Clinton Street, but residents in this area say they hope it is by the morning rush.