PVWC Installing Line Stops to Address 42" Main Break at N 1st & ArchSt
Published on August 25, 2025
**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
Passaic Valley Water Commission Installing Line Stops to Address 42-Inch Main Break at North 1st and Arch Street – Flushing Temporarily Paused Until Water Restored in Riverside Section of Paterson
(Paterson, N.J. – August 25, 2025) – Passaic Valley Water Commission (PVWC) crews are working today to install line stops to repair a 42-inch main break at North 1st and Arch Streets in Paterson. A line stop is a specialized technique that allows water utilities to temporarily block the flow of water in a large pipeline so repairs can be made, minimizing impact to residents and businesses. This critical step will help PVWC restore water service to the Riverside section of Paterson and Fair Lawn, which is a wholesale customer of PVWC.
This incident is separate from the Hinchliffe Stadium water main break, where PVWC successfully restored both the 24-inch and 30-inch pipelines.
Flushing Program Update
To focus on restoring water service, PVWC has temporarily paused its large-scale flushing program, which was nearly 50% complete at the time of the new break. Flushing is a critical step to improving water quality and ultimately lifting the Boil Water Advisory. Once water service is stabilized and flushing resumes, PVWC will continue until the program is complete.
Boil Water Advisory
In coordination with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), PVWC has already lifted the Boil Water Advisory for nearly 77,000 customers in parts of Paterson, specifically Broadway and all streets south of Broadway, east of Spruce Street, and west of Route 20.
The Boil Water Advisory remains in effect for:
- Customers in Paterson outside of the area specified above and the Borough of Prospect Park
- Customers served by the Manchester Utilities Authority (NJ1603001) in Haledon and North Haledon
Residents and businesses under the advisory must continue to boil water for at least one minute before using it for drinking, cooking, brushing teeth, washing dishes, or making ice—or use bottled water—until PVWC provides official notice that the water is safe.
Customer Safety Reminder
PVWC water quality testing crews wear official uniforms and carry photo ID badges. Customers are reminded not to open their doors to anyone lacking proper credentials. Suspicious activity should be reported immediately to the local police department.
Stay Informed
- Haledon & North Haledon residents: Visit muawater.net or call 973-942-9027 for MUA updates
- Sign up for PVWC Alerts at pvwc.com
- Follow PVWC on Facebook, Instagram, X, and LinkedIn
- For questions: Call 973-340-4300 (option #2) or email customerservice@pvwc.com
PVWC thanks customers for their patience and cooperation throughout this complex repair and recovery operation. This event underscores the importance of PVWC’s capital replacement program, which is designed to modernize aging infrastructure and reduce system vulnerabilities.