Thousands may notice the taste and smell of chlorine in their drinking water. This results from NJ American Water temporarily changing its water treatment process. This should last until the end of April 2023.
New Jersey American Water will temporarily change its water treatment process from using chloramine to using free chlorine residual at its Raritan-Millstone and Canal Road Water Treatment plants, starting the week of February 20, 2023, and continuing until the end of April 2023. The change is part of the company's annual maintenance program for its water distribution system and is meant to provide customers with safe and high-quality water.
According to Laura Norkute, Director of Water Quality and Environmental Compliance at New Jersey American Water, the temporary change in disinfectant is a standard water treatment practice and a measure of disinfection in the company's distribution system. During the maintenance period, some customers may notice a slight taste and smell of chlorine in their water, which is normal and will only be temporary. Customers who wish to reduce the chlorine taste can place water in an uncovered glass container in the refrigerator overnight to dissipate the chlorine faster.
“This periodic, scheduled change in disinfectant is a standard water treatment practice that allows us to continue to provide safe, high-quality water for our customers,” said Laura Norkute, Director of Water Quality and Environmental Compliance, New Jersey American Water. “We perform this distribution system maintenance program every year as an added measure of disinfection in our distribution system.”
The temporary treatment change affects New Jersey American Water customers in various communities across Essex, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Morris, Somerset, and Union counties, including cities like Trenton, Princeton, and Elizabeth, and towns like Maplewood, Millburn, and Cranford. New Jersey American Water will continue to monitor the water quality in its system to ensure that it meets or exceeds federal and state drinking water standards.
The temporary treatment change applies to New Jersey American Water customers in the following communities. (Communities with an asterisk purchase water from New Jersey American Water.)
- Essex County: Irvington, Maplewood, Millburn
- Hunterdon County: Flemington Borough*, Raritan Township, Readington Township, and Tewksbury Township
- Mercer County: Hopewell Borough*, Hopewell Township, Lawrence Township*, Princeton Borough, Princeton Junction, Princeton Township, Trenton*, and West Windsor Township
- Middlesex County: Cranbury Township, Dunellen Borough, Edison Township, Jamesburg Borough, Middlesex Borough, Monroe Township, North Brunswick*, Piscataway Township, Plainsboro Township, South Brunswick Township, and South Plainfield Borough
- Morris County: Chatham Township, Florham Park Borough, Long Hill Township, Mendham Township Mendham Borough
- Somerset County: Bedminster Township, Bernards Township, Bernardsville Borough, Bound Brook Borough, Branchburg Township, Bridgewater Township, Far Hills Borough, Franklin Township, Green Brook Township, Hillsborough Township, Manville Borough, Millstone Borough, Montgomery Township, North Plainfield Borough, Peapack & Gladstone Borough, Raritan Borough, Rocky Hill*, Somerville Borough, South Bound Brook Borough, Warren Township and Watchung Borough
- Union County: Berkley Heights Township, City of Rahway*, Clark Township, Cranford Township, City of Elizabeth (Liberty)*, Fanwood Borough, Garwood Borough, Hillside Township, Kenilworth Borough, Linden City, Mountainside Borough, New Providence Borough, Plainfield City, Roselle Borough, Roselle Park Borough, Scotch Plains Township, Springfield Township, Summit, Union Township, Westfield Township, and Winfield Park Township*
For more information, customers can visit newjerseyamwater.com.
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