An electrical fire burns on a utility pole as RBFD firefighters extinguish the brush fire below it. (Photo by Brian Donohue. Click to enlarge.)
By BRIAN DONOHUE
An electrical fire on a utility pole caused a brush fire along the NJ Transit railroad tracks near Chestnut Street Saturday morning, as a record breaking dry spell continues to heighten fire concerns and “strongly urged” water restrictions kicked in for Red Bank customers.
Red Bank volunteer firefighters extinguished the fire and Jersey Central Power and Light crews were repairing the pole, located just inside the fence at the Department of Public Utilities compound Saturday morning. Chief Bobby Holiday said it was caused by an arcing power line.
Since October 1, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service and agencies across the state have battled more than 500 brush fires, a 1300 percent increase over last year, state officials said.
Meanwhile, the Borough of Red Bank’s annual water supply switch, in which town stops drawing from the borough’s own wells for six months and instead pulls from New Jersey American Water’s reservoir supplies – occurred Friday.
That’s two days after the company issued a notice of “statewide mandatory conservation measures” in response to the state Department of Environmental Protections’s declaration of a drought warning. The drought warning includes a list of conservation measures that the state says are “strongly urged.”
Borough Manager Jim Gant told redbankgreen the supply switch means Red Bank customers now “fall under their jurisdiction” and should heed the company’s — and the state DEP’s — recommended water use restrictions.
Here’s more from the NJAW press release:
The company requests that customers limit all nonessential water usage by pausing all outdoor watering until spring and conserving as much as possible indoors.
“We are dedicated to responsible water management and are prepared to support Governor Murphy and the NJ DEP’s action to move New Jersey to Drought Warning status,” said Mark McDonough, president of New Jersey American Water. “Our
customers can trust that we are closely tracking water conditions and are prepared to take additional measures to support statewide water preservation efforts. However, it is critical for everyone to work together and conserve water now.”In mid-October, the NJ DEP issued a Drought Watch following a prolonged period of low precipitation. The Watch was upgraded to a Warning as of November 13, following a public hearing to gauge the severity of water supply concerns.
As a result of this public hearing and escalation, New Jersey American Water is urging customers to limit all non-essential water use and providing the following guidelines below:
Outdoor Conservation Guidelines:
Pause all outdoor watering. Plants require less water in the fall, so allow them to go dormant for the season, and postpone water-intensive landscaping until spring.
Winterize your irrigation system. Turn off and drain sprinkler systems, outdoor spigots, and hoses.
Sweep, don’t spray. Use a broom instead of a hose or pressure washer to clear leaves and debris from sidewalks or pavement.
Use a commercial car wash that recycles water, instead of washing your car at home.Indoor Conservation Guidelines:
Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth, shaving, or washing dishes in the sink. Run dishwashers and clothes washers only when full. If you have a water-saver cycle, use it.
Take shorter showers. Try to shower in five minutes or less.
Be a leak detective. Find and fix leaks and breaks in hoses, sprinkler systems, pipes and toilets. For help, download New Jersey American Water’s Leak Detection Kit at newjerseyamwater.com under Water Information.
Insulate exposed water pipes with pre-slit foam insulation to maintain
warmth and avoid wasting water while it heats up.
Consider water and energy-efficient appliances. Products and services
that have earned the US EPA WaterSense label have been certified to be at least 20 percent more efficient without sacrificing performance.“These small but impactful actions are designed to help alleviate stress on water
sources and infrastructure. Together, we can make a difference and support the sustainability of our water resources,” said McDonough.New Jersey American Water has been closely monitoring supply levels in coordination with operation centers across its system. The company does not anticipate a major threat to its water supply and is leveraging redundancies to shift between water sources
to provide uninterrupted water service at this time.The DEP’s Drought warning designation and New Jersey American Water’s Mandatory Water Conservation Notice prioritize preserving available water supplies to avert a more serious water shortage.
New Jersey American Water customers can monitor their water usage and find ways to use water more wisely online through their MyWater account. More indoor and outdoor water-saving tips can be found on New Jersey American Water’s website at
newjerseyamwater.com/conservation and the New Jersey Department of Environmental
Protection’s Water Conservation Website.
redbankgreen editor Brian Donohue may be reached via email at [email protected] or by calling or texting 848-331-8331 or yelling his name loudly as he walks by. Do you value the news coverage provided by redbankgreen? Please become a financial supporter if you haven’t already. Click here to set your own level of monthly or annual contribution.
