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(UPDATE: City manager Terence Reidy said at 8:30 p.m. on Friday there still haven’t been reports of water issues in Asbury Park, although the advisory is in effect until further notice. The concern about water throughout the county arises from fear that bacteria could get in through broken pipes, Reidy said. In other news, Reidy said a pipe broke this morning on Bangs Avenue but was repaired shortly after.)

New Jersey American Water has urged Monmouth County customers to discontinue all nonessential water use and outdoor water use, according to the company’s website. The advisory includes a recommendation to boil drinking water.

Meanwhile, a state of emergency has been declared in Monmouth County and all outdoor water use is banned, according to the Monmouth County government website.  While the county website says the boil water advisory applies county-wide, the Facebook page of the New Jersey American Water Company has a post Saturday morning citing its own advisory which did not include Asbury Park. Click here for the water company’s Facebook page.

There have been reports of brown water and loss of service in Monmouth County throughout the day on Friday, although police said they have not received any reports of water issues in Asbury Park.

Three water mains collapsed at the company’s Swimming River Water Treatment Plant in the Lincroft section of Middletown, according to a water company press release. The advisory on boiling water is a standard procedure whenever water pressure is lost as a precaution, and New Jersey American Water will provide information as to when the boiling water advisory and restrictions on non-essential water use are lifted.

The company issued the following advice:

• Throw away uncooked food or beverages or ice cubes if made with tap water during the day of the advisory.

• Keep boiled water in the refrigerator for drinking.

• Rinse hand-washed dishes for a minute in diluted bleach (one tablespoon of household bleach per gallon of tap water) or clean your dishes in a dishwasher using the hot wash cycle and dry cycle.

• Do not swallow water while showering or bathing.

• Provide pets with boiled water after cooling.

• Do not use home filtering devices in place of boiling or using bottled water; most home water filters will not provide adequate protection from microorganisms.

• Use only boiled water to treat minor injuries.

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