June 2, 2023
ROBBINSVILLE TOWNSHIP, NJ (MERCER)–The Township of Robbinsville said in a press release: Aqua Water customers in Robbinsville, Windsor and neighboring municipalities continue to experience low to non-existent water pressure, an issue which began Thursday.
Per Aqua, the current State of Emergency, declared Friday by the Robbinsville Office of Emergency Management (OEM), is due to a water well failure and was a planned maintenance event.
Aqua is working on the issue and while a company representative said late Thursday afternoon “the pressure gradient will increase overnight as we continue to pressurize the system,” that development did not materialize. The company said the water pressure problems could last through most of the weekend. The Robbinsville School District were informed Friday afternoon that “the entire repair will be done by Sunday night.”
As a result of the water well failure, Sharon Elementary School was forced to close Friday, while Pond Road Middle School, and Robbinsville High were dismissed early. Aqua is advising customers to please conserve water whenever possible.
“The biggest challenge that we’ve had has been a lack of communication,” Mayor Dave Fried said Friday while briefing the media at the Municipal Building. “Aqua did not notify us about what they were doing regarding its well maintenance, or how they were doing it. That lack of communication has caused us to shut down our schools, along with Amazon – one of the biggest distribution hubs in the world. That creates a domino effect and a number of different challenges for us and our local businesses.
“What we find most frustrating is this was a self-inflicted wound. Emergencies such as water main breaks happen. We get that. But Aqua decided to do these things as part of their maintenance and did not tell us. They did not work with us, so we had no ability to put contingency plans in place ahead of time. We have those contingencies in place now in the form of mutual aid for fire, but we had to scramble. Fire suppression is a huge concern, and all of these things we’ve had to do on the fly because of Aqua’s lack of communication and lack of planning. We learned about this situation from our residents, not from Aqua, and we find that incredibly disappointing to say the very least.”
The Township will continue to pass along any information as it becomes available. If you are in need of water or a cooling station this weekend, please contact the Robbinsville Police Department’s non-emergency number at (609) 259-3900.
Our crews continue to address low water pressure impacting some Aqua New Jersey customers in Hamilton, Hamilton Square, Robbinsville and Chesterfield.
The team is working around the clock to address this issue, which was caused by a pump malfunction in one of our wells. We anticipate water pressure will improve significantly by tomorrow (Saturday) evening and will fully recover by Monday morning.
We apologize for the inconvenience this has caused our customers and remind them that:
- Your water has and continues to be safe to use and consume, despite low pressure.
- You can help the system pressure recover faster by conserving water. Please discontinue non- essential water activities and reduce water usage by taking shorter showers, stopping lawn irrigation and minimizing the use of washers and dishwashers.
- Please sign up for WaterSmart Alerts to get regular updates on water issues in your community.
Thank you for your patience – we will continue to coordinate with government and elected officials to keep our customers informed.
new-jersey-service-alert-622023Download 
Robbinsville Township holds press confrence on water emergency in Robbinsville Township.
The Amazon warehouse on New Canton way appeared to just have essential personnel working. A parking lot that is usually full was empty this afternoon. A contractor was setting up a tent and portable toilets at the location. According to the Mayor the warehouse had to shut down to low water pressure.
An approximately 1-million-gallon water tank sits along the New Jersey Turnpike with the Robbinsville Township and Aqua Water logo on it welcoming people to Robbinsville.
A large Aqua water tank sits behind the office on Black Forest Drive in Hamilton Township. The wrap came off this week of the freshly painted tank. The Hamilton Township and Aqua logos can be seen from I-295.
June 2, 2023
Water Emergency Continues In Robbinsville; Could Last Though The Weekend
ROBBINSVILLE TOWNSHIP, NJ (MERCER)–The Township of Robbinsville says that Aqua Water customers in Robbinsville, Windsor and neighboring municipalities are still experiencing low to non-existent water pressure, an issue which began Thursday.
Per Aqua, the situation is due to an unanticipated water well failure.
Aqua says it continues to work on the issue and while a company representative said late Thursday afternoon “the pressure gradient will increase overnight as we continue to pressurize the system,” that development did not materialize.
As a result, Sharon Elementary School was forced to close today, while Pond Road Middle School and Robbinsville High will be dismissed early. There currently is no exact timeline from Aqua to resolve the low water pressure issue.
Please conserve water whenever possible.
The Township will continue to pass along any information as it becomes available.
June 2, 2023-Update
LAWRENCE TOWNSHIP, NJ (MERCER)–Police say that on June 1, 2023 at approximately 12:17 p.m., the Lawrence Township Police Department responded to the area of Brunswick Pike (Route 1) and Franklin Corner Rd for a motor vehicle crash involving a dump truck and a sedan.
The driver of the dump truck (Suleyman Durdu, 28-year-old male from Bordentown, NJ) sustained moderate non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the sedan (Daijah McKithen, 18-year-old female from Lawrenceville, NJ) succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced deceased on-scene
The investigation into this fatal crash has determined that the cause was the result of an improper left turn made by the driver of the sedan (Ms. McKithen). Video evidence obtained by investigators showed the sedan driving northbound on Brunswick Pike in the center lane. As the sedan approached the traffic signal at Bakers Basin Rd, the sedan made an abrupt left turn towards Franklin Corner Rd across several lanes of traffic. As the sedan attempted to cross the highway, the dump truck traveling southbound impacted the sedan on the southbound side of the highway. It was determined that the traffic signal was green for both north and southbound Brunswick Pike traffic.
The driver of the dump truck has been admitted to a local medical facility and is being treated for non-life-threatening injuries. No charges are expected to be filed against the driver of the dump truck.
Any any witnesses to this crash are asked to contact Officer Thomas Everist @ 609- 896-1111 / [email protected] or Detective Paulina Way @ 609-844-7133 / [email protected].
June 2, 2023
UPDATE: Garden State Parkway has reopened in the area of the fire in Bass River State Forest. Pay close attention to speed limits they have been reduced in the area.
Northbound is now fully reopened too. Smoke conditions remain between mileposts 48 and 52. Speed limits have been reduced in that corridor. https://t.co/23IVMC8Jvv
— Garden State Parkway (@GSParkway) June 2, 2023
The southbound roadway between exits 63 and 38 has reopened. The reopening of the northbound lanes is underway
— Garden State Parkway (@GSParkway) June 2, 2023
The roadway is closed in both directions between exits 38 and 63 until further notice because of reduced visibility caused by heavy smoke from the Bass River State Forrest wildfire and dense fog. pic.twitter.com/1gqPCFs84u
— Garden State Parkway (@GSParkway) June 2, 2023
WILDFIRE UPDATE: Allen Road Wildfire – Bass River State Forest
NEW ROAD CLOSURE: GARDEN STATE PARKWAY
Garden State Parkway is closed between Exit 63 and Exit 38 in both directions.
EXISTING ROAD CLOSURES
Allen Road is closed
Oswego Road is closed
Stage Road is closed between North Maple Avenue and Rt. 679
Rt. 679 is closed between Rt. 563 and Leaktown Road
WILDFIRE SIZE UPDATE
The Allen Road Wildfire remains 5,000 acres in size and 50% contained.
STRUCTURES THREATENED
The Timberline Campground remains closed
0 residential structures are threatened
TRAIL CLOSURES
The Batona Trail is closed in Bass River State Forest
Operational Activity and Weather related on Garden State Parkway northbound Exit 38B – Atlantic City Expressway (Egg Harbor Twp) . All traffic is diverted of exit 38B, due to forest fire. Road is closed between exit 38B and 63. https://t.co/8LSgtCd2Rr
— 511NJ GSP (@511njgsp) June 2, 2023
