CITY OF ORANGE TOWNSHIP WATER SAFETY UPDATE

PUBLIC NOTICE

CITY OF ORANGE TOWNSHIP WATER SAFETY UPDATE

CITY OF ORANGE WATER IS SAFE TO DRINK AND USE FOR ALL OTHER PURPOSES

This shall serve as a public information notice to all consumers of drinking water in the City of Orange Township (the “City”). The New Jersey Department of Environmental (NJDEP) regulations require that all municipalities and/or water operators meet certain water treatment technique requirements. This means that measurements of pH and orthophosphate values must remain within certain parameters. This requirement is monitored by NJDEP on a monthly basis.

The City’s water operator, SUEZ North America, failed to implement water treatment technique requirements as of January 1, 2021. The result of SUEZ’S failure is the issuance by NJDEP of a notice of violation of the water quality parameters (WQP). However, it does not constitute an emergency or require any further corrective action by the City as the current lead and copper sampling results show that there is NO exceedance within the City of Orange water system.

Please note that as part of its normal treatment plan, the City’s water operator has installed corrosion control treatment consisting of pH and orthophosphate adjustments to the Orange water system to help prevent any lead and/or copper in the pipes from dissolving into the water. The pH and orthophosphate values must meet the WQP set by the NJDEP pursuant to regulations current through 2020. Orange was within the permitted range of WQP for the 2020 monitoring period.

However, effective January 1, 2021, the NJDEP restricted the permitted range. As a result, during the first four months of the January 1, 2021- June 30, 2021 monitoring period, the pH and orthophosphate values did not meet NJDEP standards for 78 days. According to the new standards set by NJDEP regulations, the system may not be outside the set values for nine or more days. Once the Orange Water Department became aware of the new standards, the Department immediately adjusted the water treatment process to optimize the water quality and comply with NJDEP standards.

Although the above situation does not constitute an emergency, a Tier 2 Public Notice was issued in order to inform the public of this development and to inform the public that no action is required by consumers. Finally, the Public notice was issued in order to inform the public what actions the City’s operator has already done to correct this issue.

Be clear, the Orange water is safe and is monitored daily. The Orange Water Department is dedicated to being transparent with our consumers, especially with matters pertaining to water quality. We will continue to hold our water utility operator to maintain the same standard of care and transparency.

For additional information and to obtain a copy of the public notice, residents can visit the alerts section of www.mysuezwater.com or contact SUEZ at 973-419-5409.

Frequently Asked Questions :

Who is the City of Orange Township’s water utility operator?
SUEZ, North America – 973-419-5409
www.mysuezwater.com

What is this notice I received?
Our water system recently violated a drinking water standard. Although this is not an emergency, as our customers, you have a right to know what happened, what you should do, and what we did to correct this situation. The notice received in the mail explains in detail what occurred.

What happened?
The City of Orange Water system has installed corrosion control treatment (which consists of pH and orthophosphate adjustments) to help prevent lead and/or copper in the pipes from dissolving into the water. During the most recent monitoring period, the pH and orthophosphate values did not meet the water quality parameters (WQP) set by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) for 78 days within the six-month monitoring period.

Is there a lead issue in Orange?
No. Despite the recent violation, lead and copper sampling results show that there is NO exceedance within the City of Orange water system.

What is being done to correct this issue?
Once the Orange Water Department became aware of the new standards, the Department immediately adjusted the water treatment process to optimize the water quality and comply with NJDEP standards.

PUBLIC NOTICE