09/24/99 15:59 FAX 908 232 2719    ETOWNWATER
Elizabethtown Water Company 600 South Ave., Westfield, NJ 07091 0788
Phone: (908) 6541234: Fax: (908) 232-2719
FOR RELEASE 4 p.m.
Contact: Donna Argosy

ELIZABETHTOWN WATER COMPANY PLANS TO INCREASE WATER PRODUCTION AT ITS PRIMARY TREATMENT PLANT TO 60 MGD

WESTFIELD—September 24, 1999 - Elizabethtown today announced that later this evening, it plans to increase its water production from 40 million gallons per day (mgd) to 60 mgd at its primary treatment plant in Bridgewater. The Company is still stressing to its customers to continue to conserve water.
Elizabethtown still urges customers to continue to boil the water for three minutes before consuming it until the overall situation stabilizes. Elizabethtown has been doing extensive routine testing before, during and after the storm. All results indicate that the water is free of bacterial contamination. The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has also tested the water and the results of the first round of tests were negative for contamination.
The DEP is the primary agency that certifies Elizabethtown's water quality. The boil water advisory cannot be lifted until Elizabethtown and the DEP are sure the water is free of bacterial contamination.
As the plant returns to service, customers may experience periods of discolored water. The discoloration is caused by sediment in the pipes. It is not harmful. When the pressure in the system returns to normal, the discoloration will disappear.
Immuno-compromised persons, such as persons undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants, persons win HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, should exercise additional caution with their drinking water.
Elizabethtown Water Company serves 213,000 business and residential customas in 47 municipalities in Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Morris, Somerset and Union counties. (end)

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