Most Newark residents have had their water service restored following a major water main break that left tens of thousands of Essex County residents without water.

But despite service returning to normal, a boil water advisory remains in effect.

Bolatito Lawal, owner of Bolly B African Restaurant in Newark says that the situation has been awful. She says the restaurant had to shut down for a time because the water was not safe to cook with.

“Not much activity yesterday. We don’t make any sales yesterday. This affects our cooking and everything,” Lawal says.

Next door at AquaPhit Water Bar, owner Rashena Burrough says there were lines of people waiting to fill up on their filtered water. But low pressure halted that for the day.

“Yesterday for the water bar, it was a little stagnant because we were unaware about the boil alert at first. So we were letting people full up the gallons of water, but it was taking a long time, so eventually, we stopped,” Burrough says.

The water main break occurred early Tuesday morning in Belleville’s Branch Brook Park. The break has been isolated, and crews were able to divert the water supply and begin making repairs.

“It’s back on, low pressure, so that’s what we have now and we’re still managing,” says Lawal.

Newark officials say that full water pressure should be restored by Thursday morning.

The boil water advisory will remain in effect for the time being. Officials in Bellville, Bloomfield and Newark will be giving bottled water to anyone who needs it.