Your water may taste or smell like chlorine for a couple months

As part of an annual maintenance program for their water distribution system, New Jersey American Water will be temporally changing their treatment process from a cholormine combination to a chlorine free residual at their treatment plants in Colts Neck and Neptune.

They'll be cleaning out the system between February 18 until sometime in April and you may notice a slight taste or smell of chlorine in the water.

NJAW officials says 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.

During the treatment change, customers’ water will continue to meet or surpass state and federal standards.

New Jersey American Water will continuously monitor water quality in the system to ensure that customers receive excellent water quality.

The temporary treatment change applies to NJAW customers in Aberdeen, Allenhurst, Asbury Park City, Avon, Bay Head, Belmar, Bradley Beach, Colts Neck Township, Deal, Eatontown, Elberon, Fair Haven, Hazlet, Highlands, Holmdel Township, Interlaken, Keansburg, Lake Como, Little Silver, Loch Arbor Village, Long Branch City, Matawan, Middletown Township, Monmouth Beach, Neptune City, Neptune Township (incl. Ocean Grove), Ocean Township, Oceanport, Red Bank, Rumson, Sea Bright, Shrewsbury, Shrewsbury Township, Tinton Falls, Union Beach, Wanamassa and West Long Branch.

This temporary treatment change also applies to residents living in Aberdeen Township, Avon, Belmar, Lake Como, Matawan, Naval Weapons Station Earle, Keansburg and Point Pleasant who purchase water from NJAW.

New Jersey American Water has used chloramines in its water treatment process for customers in Monmouth and Ocean counties since 2012.

More From The Jersey Shore: