Taste, Smell of Chlorine Possible in Princeton Water

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 begean on Jan. 7 and continue through February. 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.

To remove the taste of chlorine, customers may follow these 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.

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
• Westfield