Officials are working to flush and test the water system in Atlantic City as resident are urged to boil their water.
Editor's note (Jan. 7, 2024, 6:43 p.m.): The boil water advisory in Atlantic City was lifted Sunday afternoon, Mayor Marty Small said.
A boil water advisory is in effect for all residents in Atlantic City, New Jersey. It started on Friday and is expected to last through the weekend.
Officials with the Atlantic City Health Department and Human Services Environmental Health Division are urging everyone to bring water to 212 degrees before drinking.
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When flushing the system at 1:30 a.m. Saturday morning, officials say they got encouraging results.
"We are extremely and cautiously optimistic that hopefully sometime [Sunday] afternoon the boil water advisory will be lifted," mayor Marty Small Sr. said in a press conference Saturday afternoon.
The city took to Facebook to announce that they purchased over 500 cases of water to be distributed to residents of Atlantic City, and all of the water was picked up before 9 p.m.
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The city explained that they routinely check the water at the treatment plant for turbidity, or cloudiness, that would lead to increased chances for disease-causing organisms, officials said.
While testing a sample of the water on Friday, turbidity levels were above the standard level which is what has health officials issuing the boil water advisory.
The boil water advisory will last for at least the next two days.
Officials say everyone should bring the water to a boil at 212 degrees for one minute then let the boiled water cool before drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes or preparing food.
Atlantic City health officials say they will be flushing the water system in the coming days and will end the boil water advisory once the turbidity returns to acceptable levels.
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