New Jersey American Water Plans for Temporary Treatment Change in Water Treatment Plants Serving Central and Northern Parts of the State

Rhea-AI Summary

New Jersey American Water (NYSE:AWK) will temporarily switch disinfectants from chloramine to free chlorine at the Raritan-Millstone (Bridgewater) and Canal Road (Somerset) treatment plants to perform annual maintenance.

The change runs the week of Feb. 9, 2026 through end of April 2026; some customers may notice a temporary chlorine taste or smell.

CAMDEN, N.J., Jan. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of an annual, routine maintenance program, New Jersey American Water will temporarily change the water treatment process from using chloramine to free chlorine at its Raritan-Millstone Water Treatment Plant in Bridgewater and its Canal Road Water Treatment Plant in Somerset. These surface water treatment plants serve New Jersey American Water customers in the following counties: Essex, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Morris, Somerset, and Union.

"This periodic, scheduled change in disinfectant is a standard water treatment practice that allows us to continue to provide safe, high-quality water for our customers," said Andrea Castro, Director of Water Quality and Environmental Compliance, New Jersey American Water. "We perform this distribution system maintenance program every year as part of our ongoing commitment to maintaining high water quality throughout our distribution system."

The temporary treatment process will begin the week of Feb. 9, 2026 and continue until the end of April 2026. During this period, some customers may notice a slight taste and smell of chlorine in their water. This is normal and will only be temporary until the system maintenance is complete. Customers who wish to reduce the taste of chlorine can place water in an uncovered glass container in the refrigerator overnight to dissipate chlorine faster.

Throughout the maintenance period, New Jersey American Water will continue to monitor water quality in the system to provide water to customers that meets or surpasses federal and state drinking water standards.

The temporary treatment change applies to New Jersey American Water customers in the following communities. (Communities with an asterisk purchase water from New Jersey American Water.) 

Essex County: Irvington

Hunterdon County: Flemington Borough*, Raritan Township, Readington Township, and Tewksbury Township

Mercer County: Hopewell Borough*, Hopewell Township, Lawrence Township*, Princeton Borough, Princeton Junction, Princeton Township, Trenton*, and West Windsor Township

Middlesex County: Cranbury Township, Dunellen Borough, Edison Township, Jamesburg Borough, Middlesex Borough, Monroe Township, North Brunswick*, Piscataway Township, Plainsboro Township, South Brunswick Township and South Plainfield Borough

Morris County: Chatham Township, Long Hill Township, Mendham Township Mendham Borough

Somerset County: Bedminster Township, Bernards Township, Bernardsville Borough, Bound Brook Borough, Branchburg Township, Bridgewater Township, Far Hills Borough, Franklin Township, Green Brook Township, Hillsborough Township, Manville Borough, Millstone Borough, Montgomery Township, North Plainfield Borough, Peapack & Gladstone Borough, Raritan Borough, Rocky Hill*, Somerville Borough, South Bound Brook Borough, Warren Township and Watchung Borough

Union County: Berkley Heights Township, City of Rahway*, Clark Township, Cranford Township, City of Elizabeth (Liberty)*, Fanwood Borough, Garwood Borough, Hillside Township, Kenilworth Borough, Linden City, Mountainside Borough, New Providence Borough, Plainfield City, Roselle Borough, Roselle Park Borough, Scotch Plains Township, Summit, Union Township, Westfield Township and Winfield Park Township*

New Jersey American Water has used chloramines in its water treatment process since the 1970's. For more information, visit the Water Quality section of the company's website at newjerseyamwater.com.

About New Jersey American Water
New Jersey American Water, a subsidiary of American Water, is the largest regulated water utility in the state, providing safe, clean, reliable and affordable water and wastewater services to approximately 2.9 million people. For more information, visit www.newjerseyamwater.com and follow New Jersey American Water on LinkedIn, Facebook, X, and Instagram. 

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SOURCE American Water

FAQ

When will New Jersey American Water (AWK) switch from chloramine to free chlorine in 2026?

The switch begins the week of Feb. 9, 2026 and continues through the end of April 2026. According to New Jersey American Water, this is a scheduled, annual maintenance change at the Raritan-Millstone and Canal Road treatment plants to preserve distribution water quality.

Which counties and treatment plants will AWK's temporary treatment change affect in 2026?

The change affects customers served by Raritan-Millstone and Canal Road plants in Essex, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Morris, Somerset, and Union counties. According to New Jersey American Water, specific municipalities within those counties will experience the temporary disinfectant change.

Will AWK water still meet safety standards during the Feb–April 2026 disinfectant change?

Yes. New Jersey American Water will continue monitoring water quality to meet or surpass federal and state drinking water standards. According to New Jersey American Water, routine testing and system monitoring remain in place throughout the temporary free chlorine period.

What should customers do if they notice a chlorine taste during AWK's 2026 maintenance?

Customers may notice a slight chlorine taste or smell; this is temporary and normal. According to New Jersey American Water, placing water in an uncovered glass container in the refrigerator overnight can help dissipate chlorine faster and reduce taste.

How long has New Jersey American Water used chloramines prior to the 2026 temporary change?

New Jersey American Water has used chloramines in its water treatment process since the 1970s. According to New Jersey American Water, chloramines are the regular disinfectant, and the temporary switch to free chlorine is part of annual distribution maintenance.

Which specific communities will be impacted by AWK's disinfectant switch in early 2026?

Communities listed include municipalities across Essex, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Morris, Somerset, and Union counties served by the two plants. According to New Jersey American Water, both customers who purchase water and direct-served municipalities are included in the list.