Edison residents celebrate restored water service after major main break

NEW JERSEY (PIX11) — Edison residents said they finally have running water again after a massive 20-inch water main break left nearly 20,000 residents and businesses with low or no pressure. 

Most people had service restored by the next day, but some who lived close to the break were without water until late Monday night.

“I was happy. I was jumping up and down,” said resident Debbie Lillis when her water returned Monday night. “It’s been hard. You couldn’t wash dishes. You couldn’t flush the toilet at times.”

In a Facebook post, Edison Mayor Sam Joshi said crews identified the final source of the problem Monday afternoon in a water main line listed as ‘abandoned’ on city maps. 

Joshi said an estimated 10% of Edison’s water lines are unknown, and this was one of them.

Residents praised the city for working around the clock to find - and fix - the problem.

“The us are doing a good job,” said Lillis. “And the mayor has done very well with giving us water a two-night stay at the hotel.”

“There was at least about 30 people overnight trying to figure this out,” said resident Andrew Bencivengia.

“With water back on Monday night, residents spent Tuesday catching up on all the things they haven’t been able to do since Thursday’s break.

“I’m cleaning my house now,” said a resident named Shannon.

“We had hot water, so I did my dishes,” said resident Susan Goepfert.

A boil water advisory remains in effect for Edison as a precaution. Test results are expected on January 1st. If tests come back clear, the advisory will be lifted.