NEW BRUNSWICK – Primary power was restored to Middlesex Water Company's intake in New Brunswick early today and residents can expect water pressure to increase over the next eight hours, officials said.

But due to significant loss of system pressure, customers in several affected communities or sections of communities are still advised to boil water before drinking.

Middlesex Water customers in Carteret, Clark, Edison, Highland Park, Metuchen, the Melrose section of Sayreville, South Amboy, South Plainfield, and all sections of Woodbridge had been affected by the initial loss in pressure. Customers are urged to continue to conserve water until further notice as previously directed by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

Water pressures should slowly increase over the next several hours. Tap water may initially appear cloudy, this is harmless and is simply the result of excess air in the water mains resulting from the initial loss of water pressure, the water company stated in a release.

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection requires the following language to be included in any boil water advisory:

The Department of Environmental Protection has determined that a potential or actual threat to the quality of water being provided to you currently exists. Therefore until further notice, bring tap water to a rolling boil for one minute and allow to cool before using for consumption; drinking, ice cubes, washing vegetables and fruit, and for brushing teeth. Please continue to boil your water until you are notified that the water quality is acceptable.

We also recommend the following steps as of the time of this advisory:

-Throw away uncooked food or beverages or ice cubes if made with tap water made after the time of the issuance of this 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 you are 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.

Individuals with severely compromised immune systems, infants, or the elderly may be at increased risk and should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes are available from EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791.

Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly, for example people in apartments, nursing homes, schools and businesses. You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.

Middlesex Water will be issuing updates, through media sources, municipal and health departments, the home page of its website at www.middlesexwater.com and through its Facebook and Twitter site. Customers seeking more information may call the company at 732-634-1500.