Boil Water Advisory for Salem City, Quinton Township & Alloway Township
DRINKING WATER WARNING: IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DRINKING WATER - Salem City’s Well 6 Tested Positive for E. Coli
CAMDEN, N.J. – JUNE. 18, 2025 – New Jersey American Water’s water system recently detected E. Coli in Well 6, a source of water for Salem City, Quinton Township, and Mannington Township. At this time, E. coli has not been detected in New Jersey American Water’s distribution system. On June 17, 2025, New Jersey American Water collected 1 sample from Well 6 and the sample tested positive for E. coli. The company is collecting 5 additional samples to confirm if there is a presence of E. coli in the Well. New Jersey American Water is issuing a boil water advisory for customers in Salem City, Quinton Township, and Mannington Township.
What does this mean?
*E. coli are microbes whose presence indicates that the water may be contaminated with human or animal wastes. Microbes in these wastes can cause short-term health effects, such as diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms. They may pose a special health risk for infants, young children, some of the elderly, and people with severely compromised immune systems.*
These bacteria can cause sickness 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.
What should I do?
DO NOT DRINK THE WATER WITHOUT BOILING IT FIRST.
- Bring all water to a rolling 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, and food preparation until further notice. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water.
- The symptoms above are not caused only by organisms in drinking water. If you experience any of these symptoms and they persist, you may want to seek medical advice. People at increased risk should seek advice from their healthcare providers about drinking this water.
New Jersey American Water also recommends the following steps:
- Throw away uncooked food or beverages or ice cubes if made with tap water the day of the advisory.
- Keep boiled water in the refrigerator for drinking.
- Do not swallow water while showering or bathing.
- 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 water that has been boiled (and cooled) to treat minor injuries.
- 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.
- Upon boiling water for potable use, it is suggested that 2-3 gallons of boiled (and cooled) water be stored in the refrigerator in one gallon containers for use in cooking, drinking, etc. Water can be stored in this manner for 2-3 days.
- Pets should be provided with drinking water that has been boiled (and cooled) in the manner indicated above.
What is being done?
New Jersey American Water is increasing sampling at its sources to monitor the presence of E. Coli.
- New Jersey American Water is developing a corrective action plan to implement to help ensure water supplies are protected against contamination.
- New Jersey American Water is adjusting the levels of disinfectant during treatment.
- Impacted customers are being notified of this boil water advisory via the company’s emergency notification system and more details are available on the company’s website at www.amwater.com/njaw/alerts. The company’s website can be translated into Spanish and customers can contact our Customer Service Center at 1-800-272-1325 to have this information translated into their preferred language.
The company will inform customers when tests show no E. Coli is present and they no longer need to boil water. It is important to note that the required subsequent water quality sampling may take 48-72 hours or more to complete, per New Jersey’s Department of Environmental Protection regulations. Residents must continue to boil their water before consumption until further notice.
Updates will be available on the company’s website atwww.newjerseyamwater.com, under Alerts. For more information, please contact New Jersey American Water at 1-800-272-1325. General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes are available from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.
*Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.*
This notice is being sent to you by New Jersey American Water - Salem Water Treatment; PWSID#: 1712001
Date distributed: 6/18/25
New Jersey American Water, a subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), is the largest regulated water utility in the state, providing safe, clean, reliable and affordable water and wastewater services to approximately 2.9 million people.
Media Contacts
CAMDEN, N.J. – JUNE. 18, 2025 – New Jersey American Water’s water system recently detected E. Coli in Well 6, a source of water for Salem City, Quinton Township, and Mannington Township. At this time, E. coli has not been detected in New Jersey American Water’s distribution system. On June 17, 2025, New Jersey American Water collected 1 sample from Well 6 and the sample tested positive for E. coli. The company is collecting 5 additional samples to confirm if there is a presence of E. coli in the Well. New Jersey American Water is issuing a boil water advisory for customers in Salem City, Quinton Township, and Mannington Township.
What does this mean?
*E. coli are microbes whose presence indicates that the water may be contaminated with human or animal wastes. Microbes in these wastes can cause short-term health effects, such as diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms. They may pose a special health risk for infants, young children, some of the elderly, and people with severely compromised immune systems.*
These bacteria can cause sickness 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.
What should I do?
DO NOT DRINK THE WATER WITHOUT BOILING IT FIRST.
- Bring all water to a rolling 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, and food preparation until further notice. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water.
- The symptoms above are not caused only by organisms in drinking water. If you experience any of these symptoms and they persist, you may want to seek medical advice. People at increased risk should seek advice from their healthcare providers about drinking this water.
New Jersey American Water also recommends the following steps:
- Throw away uncooked food or beverages or ice cubes if made with tap water the day of the advisory.
- Keep boiled water in the refrigerator for drinking.
- Do not swallow water while showering or bathing.
- 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 water that has been boiled (and cooled) to treat minor injuries.
- 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.
- Upon boiling water for potable use, it is suggested that 2-3 gallons of boiled (and cooled) water be stored in the refrigerator in one gallon containers for use in cooking, drinking, etc. Water can be stored in this manner for 2-3 days.
- Pets should be provided with drinking water that has been boiled (and cooled) in the manner indicated above.
What is being done?
New Jersey American Water is increasing sampling at its sources to monitor the presence of E. Coli.
- New Jersey American Water is developing a corrective action plan to implement to help ensure water supplies are protected against contamination.
- New Jersey American Water is adjusting the levels of disinfectant during treatment.
- Impacted customers are being notified of this boil water advisory via the company’s emergency notification system and more details are available on the company’s website at www.amwater.com/njaw/alerts. The company’s website can be translated into Spanish and customers can contact our Customer Service Center at 1-800-272-1325 to have this information translated into their preferred language.
The company will inform customers when tests show no E. Coli is present and they no longer need to boil water. It is important to note that the required subsequent water quality sampling may take 48-72 hours or more to complete, per New Jersey’s Department of Environmental Protection regulations. Residents must continue to boil their water before consumption until further notice.
Updates will be available on the company’s website atwww.newjerseyamwater.com, under Alerts. For more information, please contact New Jersey American Water at 1-800-272-1325. General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes are available from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.
*Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.*
This notice is being sent to you by New Jersey American Water - Salem Water Treatment; PWSID#: 1712001
Date distributed: 6/18/25
New Jersey American Water, a subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), is the largest regulated water utility in the state, providing safe, clean, reliable and affordable water and wastewater services to approximately 2.9 million people.