NJ American Water reassures customers after Delaware River chemical spill (updated)

Updated at 4:36 p.m. ET March 28, 2023: New Jersey American Water is lifting its voluntary conservation order that was put into place March 26 for its customers in Burlington, Camden and Gloucester counties, the company announced March 28. The company maintains that treated water from its Delaware River Regional Water Treatment Plant was not affected by a recent chemical spill in Pennsylvania.

The notice was lifted because the company is able to replenish its source water supply more frequently as the threat of contamination continues to diminish, the statement said.

“As more time passes and all river samples continue to show no detection of contaminant, we are more confident in drawing source water as needed to replenish our reserves,” New Jersey American Water President Mark McDonough said. “We will continue to monitor and test the source water by our intakes to ensure it is appropriate for us to take in.”

The original story, published March 27, 2023, continues below:

In response to a chemical spill from a manufacturing plant in Pennsylvania’s Bucks County, New Jersey American Water released a statement March 26 reassuring customers that treated water from its Delaware River Regional Water Treatment Plant was not affected. 

“We continue to monitor the quality of the Delaware River and have activated our business continuity plans to continue to provide safe, reliable service to customers in this three-county region,” New Jersey American Water President Mark McDonough said in a statement. 

The Camden-based water utility said that, through these ongoing water tests, it has determined the spill did not affect the treated drinking water delivered to customers in the three counties served by the Delaware River Regional Water Treatment Plant, which recently underwent a $2.5 million upgrade.

However, McDonough said the company is asking those customers in Burlington, Camden and Gloucester counties “to voluntarily reduce their unnecessary water usage for the next 24 to 48 hours to help us in our ability to maintain optimal operations and a plentiful supply for the region.” 

The company will issue a follow-up notice with this request has been lifted. Customers can also check New Jersey American Water’s website or follow the company on social media.