Camden Residents Rely on Bottled Water Amid Boil Advisory After Blizzard

A water main break caused flooding and prompted a boil water advisory for thousands of customers in the New Jersey city.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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Karrie Davis, a Camden, New Jersey resident, has been cleaning up after several inches of dirty water filled her basement when a 22-inch water main broke during a recent blizzard. The main rupture forced public works crews to make emergency repairs and has left around 3,700 American Water customers under a boil water advisory, including those in the Fairview, Morgan Village, Centerville and Waterfront South neighborhoods. Davis is relying on bottled water and a water filtration system as the city flushes the system and tests the water to determine when the advisory can be lifted.

Why it matters

Water main breaks and boil water advisories can significantly disrupt daily life for residents, requiring them to take extra precautions and find alternative water sources. This incident highlights the vulnerability of aging infrastructure during extreme weather events and the importance of proactive maintenance and emergency preparedness in cities like Camden.

The details

The 22-inch water main ruptured on Sunday at Ninth and Jefferson streets in Camden, flooding basements in the area. Public works director Keith Walker said the break was caused by the expanding and contracting of the pipes due to the inclement weather over the past five weeks. Repairs have been completed, but the city is now flushing the system and testing the water to determine when the boil water advisory can be lifted for the affected 3,700 customers.

  • The water main broke on Sunday, February 23, 2026.
  • The boil water advisory was issued on Monday, February 24, 2026.

The players

Karrie Davis

A Camden, New Jersey resident whose basement flooded with several inches of dirty water due to the water main break.

Keith Walker

The director of Public Works for the City of Camden, who said the water main break was caused by the extreme weather conditions.

Victor Carstarphen

The mayor of Camden, who said the boil water advisory will remain in effect until tests show the water is safe, which could take 48-72 hours.

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What they’re saying

“I'm just slowly going around, pulling up stuff and drying out my basement, so I don't get mold. I had to call the fire department to unplug my appliances downstairs because I didn't want to do it and possibly get shocked or anything.”

— Karrie Davis (CBS News)

“What caused it was just weather, the expanding and contraction over the last five weeks, with the inclement weather.”

— Keith Walker, Director of Public Works, City of Camden (CBS News)

“Any water, ice, anything that you may have made food dealing with water, do not use that — that was happening that day.”

— Victor Carstarphen, Mayor of Camden (CBS News)

What’s next

The city of Camden is offering free bottled water at the Office of Emergency Management while the boil water advisory remains in effect. Residents can report concerns and information to the city's Office of Emergency Management or the Department of Public Works.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the vulnerability of aging infrastructure in cities like Camden during extreme weather events and the importance of proactive maintenance and emergency preparedness to ensure reliable access to clean water for residents.