Community Corner

Taste, Smell of Chlorine Possible as Water Utility Does Annual Pipeline Maintenance

Some South Brunswick Township residents who are served by New Jersey American Water may be affected as the company conducts maintenance work at its water treatment plants in Bridegwater and Somerset.

As part its annual pipeline maintenance program, New Jersey American Water will temporarily change the water treatment process at its Raritan-Millstone Water Treatment Plant in Bridgewater and its Canal Road Water Treatment Plant in Somerset from a chloramine (a combination of ammonia and chlorine) to free chlorine.

The change will begin on February 1, 2012 and last until the end of March. During this time period, customers may notice an increase in the taste and smell of chlorine in their water. This is normal and will only be temporary until the system maintenance is complete. New Jersey American Water will continuously monitor water quality 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: Bedminster, Belle Meade, Bound Brook, Branchburg, Bridgewater, Chester, Clark, Cranbury, Cranford, Dunellen, Elizabeth, Edison, Fanwood, Flemington, Franklin, Garwood, Green Brook, Hillside, Hillsborough, Jamesburg, Kenilworth, Kingston, Lawrence, Linden, Manville, Martinsville, Middlesex, Millstone, Montgomery, Mountainside, North Plainfield, Peapak/Gladstone, Piscataway, Plainfield, Plainsboro, Pottersville, Princeton, Raritan, Roselle, Roselle Park, Readington, Scotch Plains, Somerville, South Bound Brook, South Brunswick, South Plainfield, Tewksbury, Union, and Westfield.

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To remove the taste of chlorine, customers should follow these helpful tips:

  • Place water in a glass container in the refrigerator overnight uncovered. This will allow the chlorine to dissipate at a faster pace.
  • Bring your water to a rolling boil for five minutes and allow the water to cool. This should reduce the chlorine taste and smell in the water.
  • Add a lemon slice or a few drops of lemon juice to a glass of drinking water.

For more information visit http://www.amwater.com/alerts/alert17292.html

Find out what's happening in South Brunswickwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

--New Jersey American Water


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