From New Jersey American Water:

As part of our annual distribution system (pipeline) maintenance program, New Jersey American Water will be temporarily changing its water treatment process at the Raritan-Millstone and Canal Road surface water treatment plants from a chloramine (combined) residual to a free chlorine residual. The change will take place beginning Monday, February 14, 2011 and will continue until mid-April. During this time period, customers may notice an increase in the taste and smell of chlorine in the water. This is normal and will only be temporary while we complete this annual system maintenance. As always, we will continue to monitor the water quality to ensure the service we deliver meets or is better than federal and state drinking water standards. Below is a short Q&A on the temporary switch.

Thank you for your patience while we complete this important annual maintenance program. Please feel free to reach out to me should you have any questions.

When will the change take place?
The change will take place beginning Monday, February 14, 2011 and will continue until mid-April. When completed, we will transition back to chloramines. We will post an update to our website (select Alerts on the homepage) when we transition the treatment process back to chloramines.

How often do you perform this system maintenance program?
This program is performed annually.

Is this an approved method of treatment?
Yes. Both are approved methods of disinfection by the NJ Department of Environmental Protection.

Will I notice a change in my water service?
When we transition the disinfection process from chloramines to chlorine, some customers may notice an increase in the taste and smell of chlorine in the water. This will only be temporary while we complete this annual system maintenance.

Is the water safe to drink?
Yes. We perform this distribution system maintenance program every year as an added measure to further disinfect the pipelines in our distribution system. As always, we will continue to monitor the water quality to ensure that we meet all federal and state drinking water standards.

Why is the treatment change needed?
This periodic, scheduled change in disinfectant is a standard water treatment practice. We perform this distribution system maintenance program every year as an added measure to further disinfect the pipelines in our distribution system. It also allows us to perform necessary maintenance on our chemical feed systems.

What communities do these plants serve?
The Raritan-Millstone and Canal Road Surface Water Treatment plants serve our customers in the following counties: Essex, Mercer, Middlesex, Morris, Passaic , Somerset and Union .

Are there other ways to remove the chlorine taste or smell from my water?

To remove the taste of chlorine, follow these three helpful 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.