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Order amid Chaos

Dover sues United Water for negligence,
breach of contract


Published in the Asbury Park Press

By Jean Mikle
TOMS RIVER BUREAU

DOVER TOWNSHIP — The township and the boards of fire commissioners for Dover's Fire Districts 1 and 2 have sued United Water Toms River, accusing the water company of negligence, fraud and breach of contract, and asking a Superior Court judge to appoint a receiver to temporary take over the water company's operations.

The lawsuit was filed less than a week after many residents of Squire Village, northwest Dover and areas off Hooper Avenue experienced low water pressure for more than two hours on the Memorial Day holiday, May 29.

The water pressure problems forced the township to evacuate its emergency operations center, and led volunteer firefighters to position water tankers at the Pleasant Plains and Silverton fire companies in case a fire started in the affected area.

"The recent series of events caused by United Water Toms River lead me to conclude that this municipality is in jeopardy of receiving adequate to maintain basic health and safety standards,'' Pleasant Plains Fire Chief Christopher E. Aldrich said in an affidavit attached to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit asks that the court appoint a temporary receiver to run the water company pending the outcome of the township's petition with the state Board of Public Utilities. The township asked the BPU to revoke United Water's franchise to do business here in a petition filed in March.

Published in the Asbury Park Press 06/2/06

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