NJ American Water To Resume Using Chloramines In Chatham

CHATHAM, NJ — Beginning April 18, New Jersey American Water will resume using chloramines in water treatment at its Raritan-Millstone and Canal Road Water Treatment plants, which serve Chatham customers.

In mid-February, NJ American Water temporarily switched its water treatment process from a chloramine residual to a free chlorine residual.

According to the utility company, this was done as part of an annual routine maintenance program for its water distribution system.

"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 1980s," said NJ American Water.

Some customers may have noticed a slight chlorine taste and odor in their water during the transition. The taste and smell of chlorine will go away once the chloramine process is restarted, according to officials.

The treatment change applies to New Jersey American Water customers in Middlesex, Essex, Hunterdon, Mercer, Morris, Somerset and Union.

Laura Norkute, NJAW’s director of water quality and environmental compliance, said the “periodic, scheduled change in disinfectant” is a standard water treatment practice.

Morris County towns affected by the change include, Florham Park Borough, Long Hill Township, Mendham Township and Mendham Borough.

New Jersey American Water, a subsidiary of American Water, is the state's largest investor-owned water utility, serving nearly 2.8 million people with water and/or wastewater services.

According to the company, it has been using chloramines in its water treatment process since the 1970s.

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