Car swallowed by sinkhole in Newark as water main break leaves city without running water

By James On Aug 10, 2022

A massive water main break wreaked havoc on several New Jersey towns, leaving tens of thousands of residents – and a local trauma hospital – without running water, and trigged at least one car-swallowing sinkhole.

Water gushed for hours from the 72-inch, 140-year-old pipe that broke in Branch Brook Park on the border of Newark and neighboring Belleville around 8 a.m. on Tuesday.

At one point during the day, a sinkhole opened swallowing an entire vehicle. Only a tire could be sticking out from the water. The driver told NBC that she saw water bubbling up in front of her on the street and made a quick escape from her car. She was not injured.

The water emergency forced the City of Newark to cancel summer school and prompted some area hospitals to divert patients as community residents and businesses were urged to conserve water.

Boil water advisories are in effect until further notice as a precaution for Newark and Belleville residents. The situation will be re-evaluated on Wednesday morning.

A massive water main break wreaked havoc on several New Jersey towns, leaving thousands of residents without running water, and trigged at least one car-swallowing sinkhole (pictured)

The water main break came amid the most recent heat wave that had already prompted a code red declaration from Newark – which had opened emergency shelters

Free cases of bottled water were distributed late into Tuesday evening in Belleville with a limit of one case per family limit, and proof of Belleville residency

Belleville Mayor Michael Melham posts video of a sinkhole that opened following the water main break, swallowing an entire vehicle. Only a tire could be sticking out from the water

About 100,000 people were impacted in Newark alone, according to Kareem Adeem, Director of the Newark Department of Water and Sewer Utilities.

‘Most of the infrastructure in the Northeast include Newark. Newark is the third-oldest major city in the country, might have infrastructure going back before Abe Lincoln was president,’ Adeem said.

Newark, along with the nearby town Belleville, were without water, or were limited, on Tuesday, officials said, and the boil water advisory has been in effect for both communities.

Video posted to Facebook by Belleville’s Mayor Michael Melham shows water gushing from the water main break as a sinkhole swallows a vehicle.

Anthony Iacono, Belleville’s township manager told Gothamist: ‘It literally absorbed the entire vehicle.’

Video posted to Facebook by Belleville’s Mayor Michael Melham shows water gushing from the water main break as a sinkhole swallows a vehicle

Several area hospitals were forced to divert patients and officials suggesting residents refrain from coming to the hospital for non-emergency issues.

University Hospital, Newark’s biggest hospital and the only Level 1 Trauma Center in the region, implemented emergency water conservation and activated its emergency command center. Visitors were limited and all elective procedures were canceled.

‘Until normal water operations resume, the community should refrain from coming to the hospital for non-emergency issues,’ hospital officials said. ‘University Hospital is always here to serve the healthcare needs of the community, and we appreciate everyone’s patience during this temporary water emergency.’

Free cases of bottled water were distributed late into Tuesday evening in Belleville with a limit of one case per family limit, and proof of Belleville residency.

Newark city workers handed out more than 7,000 cases to residents, even going door to door in the stifling heat, CBS News reported.

Belleville Mayor Michael Melham posts videos of vehicles lining up to receive cases of water following a water main break with the caption: Our DPW stepping up, as always during a crisis!

Newark officials reported that there appear to have been two breaks with the primary one being in Branch Brook Park on Mill Street and a secondary break on Joralemon Street, both in Belleville, according to NBC4.

Utility officials identified six problematic valves, and all were closed by early afternoon, the outlet reported.

The water main break came amid the most recent heat wave that had already prompted a code red declaration from Newark – which had opened emergency shelters to provide overnight shelter to residents.

NO WATER, NOW WHAT? HERE’S HOW TO COPE WITHOUT RUNNING WATER

The City of Newark has issued a Boil Water Advisory until further notice following a water main break on Tuesday.

Customers within the impacted service area are instructed to bring tap water to a rolling boil for one minute and allow the tap water to cool before using, or use bottled water.

Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking; preparing foods; mixing baby formula, food, juices or drinks; washing vegetables and fruit; cooking; making ice; brushing teeth; and washing dishes. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water.

Other measures to take during a water emergency:

Throw away uncooked food, beverages, or ice cubes made with tap water during the day of the Boil Water Advisory.

Keep boiled water in the refrigerator for drinking and cooking.

Use boiled water when preparing drinks, such as coffee, tea, and lemonade.

Do not swallow water while showering or bathing. Use caution when bathing babies and young children. Consider giving them a sponge bath to reduce the chance of them swallowing water.

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.

Do not use home filtering devices in place of boiling or bottled water. Most home water filters will not provide adequate protection from microorganisms.

Wash food preparation surfaces with boiled water.

Prepare powdered or concentrated baby formula with bottled water. Use boiled water if you do not have bottled water.

Use only boiled water to treat minor injuries.

Provide pets with drinking water that has been boiled (and cooled).