NJ American Water To Resume Use Of Chloramine In Union County

UNION COUNTY, NJ — New Jersey American Water will resume using chloramines in water treatment at its Raritan-Millstone and Canal Road Water Treatment plants beginning on the week of April 15.

These plants serve New Jersey American Water customers in Essex, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Morris, Somerset and Union counties.

In mid-February, as part of an annual routine maintenance program for its water distribution system, New Jersey American Water temporarily changed the water treatment process from a chloramine residual (a combined residual) to a free chlorine residual.

Chloramines have long been an effective method of water disinfection that meets all EPA and NJDEP drinking water standards and have been used by New Jersey American Water since the 1970s, according to NJ American Water.

The treatment change applies to New Jersey American Water customers in the following communities: (Communities with an asterisk purchase water from New Jersey
American Water.)

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
• Summit
• Union Township
• Westfield Township
• Winfield Park Township*

The two-month changeover to free chlorine residual enabled the company to perform routine annual maintenance. During the transition to free chlorine residual, some customers may have noticed a slight chlorine taste and odor in their water. With the resumption of the chloramine process, the taste and smell of chlorine will subside, according to NJ American Water.

For more information about the use of chloramine in water treatment, visit
newjerseyamwater.com.

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