Community Corner
Irvington May Have ‘Slight Chlorine Taste’ In Water Soon: Here’s Why
A temporary treatment change in Irvington and several other New Jersey towns will begin on Feb. 20 and last until the end of April.
IRVINGTON, NJ — Three towns in Essex County, including Irvington, will see temporary treatment changes to their supply from New Jersey American Water as part of an annual maintenance program, the company announced Wednesday.
New Jersey American Water (NJAW) said it will temporarily change the water treatment process from a chloramine (combined) residual to free chlorine residual at the company’s Raritan-Millstone and Canal Road Water Treatment plants.
The surface water treatment plants serve New Jersey American Water customers in the following counties: Essex, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Morris, Somerset and Union.
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In Essex County, that includes Irvington, Maplewood and Millburn.
The temporary treatment process will begin the week of Feb. 20 and continue until the end of April 2023.
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“During this period, some customers may notice a slight taste and smell of chlorine in their water,” NJAW stated. “This is normal and will only be temporary until the system maintenance is complete. Customers who wish to reduce the taste of chlorine can place water in an uncovered glass container in the refrigerator overnight to dissipate chlorine faster.”
Laura Norkute, NJAW’s director of water quality and environmental compliance, said the “periodic, scheduled change in disinfectant” is a standard water treatment practice.
“We perform this distribution system maintenance program every year as an added measure of disinfection in our distribution system,” Norkute said.
New Jersey American Water, a subsidiary of American Water, is the largest investor-owned water utility in the state, providing water and/or wastewater services to nearly 2.8 million people. It has used chloramines in its water treatment process since the 1970’s, the company says. For more information, visit newjerseyamwater.com.
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