The following information is provided by NJ American Water:
On April 11, New Jersey American Water resumed using chloramines in water treatment at its Swimming River Water Treatment Plant in Colts Neck and its Jumping Brook Water Treatment Plant in Neptune.
In early January, as part of its system maintenance program, New Jersey American Water temporarily changed its treatment process from chloramines to free chlorine. Chloramines have long been effective method of water disinfection that meets all USEPA and NJDEP drinking water standards.
The communities served by the Swimming River Water Treatment Plant and Jumping Brook Water Treatment Plant are:
Aberdeen Township, Allenhurst, Asbury Park City, Avon, Bayhead, Belmar, Bradley Beach, Brick, Colts Neck Township, Deal, Eatontown, Elberon, Fair Haven, Highlands, Holmdel Township, Interlaken, Keansburg, Lake Como, Lavalette (in part), Little Silver, Loch Arbor Village, Long Branch City, Matawan, Middletown Township, Monmouth Beach, Neptune City, Neptune Township (incl. Ocean Grove), Ocean Township, Oceanport, Ortley Beach, Pelican Island, Point Pleasant, Red Bank, Rumson, Sea Bright, Shorelands, Shrewsbury, Shrewsbury Township, Toms River (Mantoloking),Tinton Falls, Union Beach, Wanamassa, and West Long Branch.
The three-month changeover to chlorine enabled the company to perform routine maintenance on its chemical feed systems and remove any residual ammonia from the water distribution system.
During the transition to chlorine some customers may have noticed a slight chlorine taste and odor in their water. With the resumption of the chloramination process, the taste and smell of chlorine will abate.