The state Board of Public Utilities approved an $80,000 fine for Veolia Water after a major water main break in Hoboken in February.
The fine is part of a settlement for Veolia Water Contract Operation’s failure to mark water lines.
That water main break left customers without water for more than two days and the city with a boil water advisory that lasted for four days. Officials say it caused financial damage to businesses in the area.
RELATED: Boil water advisory lifted in Hoboken after major water main break
RELATED: Hoboken declares state of emergency following major water main break
“The impact on that community, the hospital, the citizens, the residents there, I know I want to thank our customer service people to help them there…the city did a great job responding to it,” says Frank Gaffney, NJ BPU director of Reliability and Security. “Hopefully with the ground-penetrating radar, this doesn’t happen again, because the effects are many.”
Hoboken officials say that they have an agreement with Veolia and the contractor who ruptured the 16-inch water main. The city will be reimbursed nearly $1 million and will get over 200 new leak detectors. There will also be a $300,000 grand program for businesses.