TRENTON, N.J. — U.S. Senator Andy Kim reassured New Jersey residents Friday that despite an unusual odor and taste affecting tap water in parts of the state, extensive testing shows it remains safe to drink.
Kim cited findings from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and American Water, which confirmed the water meets the state’s stringent safety standards. “Results are either non-detection or very low and far below levels of health concerns,” Kim wrote on social media Thursday.
The issue, impacting the Central Raritan system serving about 750,000 residents in North and Central New Jersey, has been linked to a potential chemical compound reacting during water treatment. Officials have not yet identified the compound or its origin but are focusing on surface water intake points from the Raritan Millstone River and surrounding tributaries.
Investigators are conducting extensive testing throughout a 30-square-mile watershed to determine whether recent heavy rainfall washed contaminants into the waterway. The DEP and American Water have ruled out abnormalities at treatment facilities and are flushing the water system in an effort to mitigate the odor and taste issues.
While authorities say the problem is rare and not likely to persist, they have not provided a timeline for when water quality will return to normal. “Clean drinking water should be something no one needs to worry about,” Kim stated, pledging to advocate for swift resolution.
Officials maintain that the water is safe to consume despite its unpleasant smell and taste.
American Water has not officially released information regarding this claim.