Chlorine Smell In Monmouth Tap Water Possible During Plant Maintenance

MONMOUTH COUNTY, NJ — You may notice an increased smell or taste of chlorine in your water when a system maintenance program begins next week, New Jersey American Water Company advises.

As part of an annual maintenance program for its water distribution system, the company will temporarily change the water treatment process serving a majority of Monmouth County towns and two in Ocean County.

The company says it's changing from a "chloramine (combination) residual to free chlorine residual" at the company’s Swimming River Water Treatment Plant in Colts Neck and its Jumping Brook Water Treatment Plant in Neptune during the maintenance.

The temporary treatment process will begin the week of Feb. 6 and continue until April, the company says.

And during the maintenance, when the free chlorine residual is used, some customers may notice a slight taste and smell of chlorine in their water, the company says.

"This is normal and will only be temporary until the system maintenance is complete," Erin Banes, external affairs specialist, said in a new release.

Customers who want to reduce the taste of chlorine can place water in an uncovered glass container in the refrigerator overnight to dissipate chlorine faster, the company advises.

New Jersey American Water will monitor water quality in the system to provide that customers continue to receive water that meets or is better than federal and state drinking water standards, the company says.

The temporary treatment change applies to New Jersey American Water customers in the following communities: Aberdeen, Allenhurst, Asbury Park, Atlantic Highlands, Avon, Bay Head (in Ocean County), Belmar, Bradley Beach, Colts Neck, Deal, Eatontown, Elberon (Long Branch), Fair Haven, Hazlet, Highlands, Holmdel, Interlaken, Keansburg, Lake Como, Little Silver, Loch Arbor, Long Branch, Matawan, Middletown, Monmouth Beach, Neptune City, Neptune (including Ocean Grove), Ocean Township, Oceanport, Red Bank, Rumson, Sea Bright, Shrewsbury, Shrewsbury Township, Tinton Falls, Union Beach, Wanamassa (Ocean Township), and West Long Branch.

This temporary treatment change also applies to residents living in the following communities that purchase water from New Jersey American Water: Aberdeen, Avon, Belmar, Keyport, Lake Como, Matawan, Naval Weapons Station Earle (in Colts Neck), Keansburg and Point Pleasant Borough (in Ocean County).

New Jersey American Water has used chloramines in its water treatment process for customers in Monmouth and Ocean counties since 2012, the company says.

New Jersey American Water, a subsidiary of American Water, is the largest investor-owned water utility in the state, serving approximately 2.8 million people.

For more information, visit newjerseyamwater.com.