New Jersey American Water will resume using chloramines in its water treatment process during the week of April 20 following the completion of routine system maintenance, the company announced.
The change affects customers served by the Raritan-Millstone Water Treatment Plant in Bridgewater and the Canal Road Water Treatment Plant in Somerset, which provide water to communities across Essex, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Morris, Somerset and Union counties.
As part of an annual maintenance program, the company temporarily switched from chloramines to chlorine in mid-February for approximately 10 weeks to help maintain the integrity of the water distribution system.
Company officials said chloramines have been used as a disinfectant since the 1970s and meet all U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection drinking water standards.
During the temporary treatment change, some customers may have noticed a slight chlorine taste or odor in their water. Officials said that taste and smell are expected to diminish once chloramines are reintroduced.
The treatment applies to the following communities:
- Essex County: Irvington
- 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, Long Hill Township, Mendham Township and 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 and Gladstone Borough, Raritan Borough, Rocky Hill, Somerville Borough, South Bound Brook Borough, Warren Township and Watchung Borough
- Union County: Berkeley Heights Township, Rahway, Clark Township, Cranford Township, Elizabeth (Liberty), Fanwood Borough, Garwood Borough, Hillside Township, Kenilworth Borough, Linden, Mountainside Borough, New Providence Borough, Plainfield, Roselle Borough, Roselle Park Borough, Scotch Plains Township, Summit, Union Township, Westfield Township and Winfield Park Township
Customers seeking additional information about chloramine use in drinking water can visit newjerseyamwater.com.
