WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ- Usually when we turn our sink on to get drinking water, our glasses are greeted with clear, odorless, delicious tasting water. But for the last couple of months the water in Monmouth County has been undeniably… different. Some New Jersey citizens have noticed a strong scent of chlorine in the water coming from their faucets. If you are one of these citizens, don’t worry you aren’t going crazy. The water actually has changed.
New Jersey American Water has switched from chloramine to free chlorine. This may sound frightening but it actually is completely safe. Free chlorine is used to control microbes. This works to prevent the contamination of disease causing organisms or pathogens in drinking water.
The switch is temporary and routine. Richard G. Barnes, External Affairs Manager at New Jersey American Water said, “We switch to chlorine for two to three months to eliminate any possibility of a bacterial build up in our water mains. We have a water quality department dedicated to collecting water samples throughout our distribution system to ensure that our water meets or surpasses federal and state drinking water quality standards.”
The use of chlorine in the water will be over at the end of April and will affect Aberdeen, Allenhurst, Asbury Park, Avon, Bay Head, Belmar, Bradley Beach, Brick, Colts Neck, Deal, Eatontown, Fair Haven, Highlands, Holmdel, Interlaken, Keansburg, Lake Como, parts of Lavalette, Little Silver, Loch Arbor, Long Branch, Mantoloking, Matawan, Middletown, Monmouth Beach, Neptune, Neptune City, Ocean Grove, Ocean Township, Oceanport, Red Bank, Point Pleasant, Rumson, Sea Bright, Shrewsbury, Shrewsbury Township, Toms River, Tinton Falls, Union Beach and West Long Branch.
New Jersey American Water makes it easy to check the status of your drinking water. Click here to learn more.
If you are interested in checking the status of water in your area click here.
