Smell something when you run your water? Diesel spill at Raritan Millstone Water Treatment Plant could be to blame

New Jersey American Water customers may smell a gas odor when running their water this week due to a diesel spill at the Raritan Millstone Water Treatment Plant on May 28.

According to the company, water quality tests show that in spite of the spill, their drinking water meets all quality standards and is safe to consume. The company also said it quickly contained the spill and took action to limit the impacts to the water system.

“Some customers in our central operating region that are served by the plant, specifically parts of Mercer and Somerset Counties, may detect a slight odor when using cold or hot water. If this occurs, please run a cold water tap in the lower level of your home for a few minutes or until the odor dissipates,” reads an alert from the company. “Again, water meets all water quality standards and is safe to consume. We sincerely apologize for this issue, and we will be implementing plans to help prevent this from occurring in the future.”