Restaurants, Businesses Heavily Impacted by Hamilton Twp., NJ, Water Woes

UPDATE - 3:30 PM Sunday: The boil water advisory for Hamilton Township has been lifted. Additional information is on the Hamilton Township MUA Facebook page.

Our original report continues below.

About 24 hours after a boil water advisory was put in place in Hamilton Township, restaurants and businesses are now feeling the impact during what should have been a very busy holiday weekend.

Boil Water Advisory in Hamilton Township

On Friday, the Hamilton Township MUA says they experienced a "momentary low-pressure event," to which they said they had no indication that the township's water supply was contaminated, however, state officials said a boil water advisory had to be issued.

Effective immediately and until further notice, customers within the impacted service area are instructed to bring tap water to a rolling boil for one minute and allow the tap water to cool before using, or use bottled water. Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking; preparing foods; mixing baby formula, food, juices or drinks; washing vegetables and fruit; cooking; making ice; brushing teeth; and washing dishes until further notice. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water.

Other safety measures include the following:

• Throw away uncooked food or beverages or ice cubes made with tap water
• Keep boiled water in the refrigerator for drinking
• Do not swallow water while showering or bathing
• Rinse hand-washed dishes with a diluted bleach solution (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 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
• Provide pets with drinking water that has been boiled (and cooled)

This situation, obviously, has trickled-down (no pun intended) to businesses across the township.

Businesses, Restaurants Impacted

Here's what we saw late Saturday afternoon...

Those wishing to see a movie at Regal Cinemas in Mays Landing could not get fountain sodas and water fountains were unavailable.

This sign was posted on the doors at Red Lobster in front of Hamilton Mall...

And as we sat in an empty parking lot at 5:30 on a Saturday evening, we watched as over a dozen vehicles pulled in then left.

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Just up the Black Horse Pike, Red Robin was only offering take-out service...

...with another sad, empty parking lot.

Dunkin' in front of Acme in Mays Landing is closed...

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While Wawa on the Black Horse Pike decided to bring a giant truck of water to their store.

If you are planning to visit a business or restaurant in Hamilton Township / Mays Landing, call ahead first.