New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Catherine McCabe shared that all water companies have complied with Gov. Phil Murphy’s order to keep water services open for people who cannot afford to pay.
“There will be no water shutoffs during this crisis,” McCabe said Tuesday afternoon at Murphy’s daily press conference on the COVID-19 outbreak.
According to NJDEP spokesperson Brendon Shank, as of March 25, the department had received commitments from water utilities serving 92 percent of New Jersey residents.
On Tuesday, McCabe reiterated that that no person in New Jersey will lose access to public drinking water due to non-payment during the COVID-19 epidemic.
McCabe also issued guidelines for state parks – they remain open and free, however services such as restrooms are closed –, and highlighted a donation of 10,000 N95 medical masks from the parks department.
Editor’s note: This story was updated at 2:38 p.m. EST on March 31, 2020 to provide clarity.
