Brown water from a Red Bank tap over the weekend.
By BRIAN DONOHUE
Red Bank residents who may have had brownish or murky water coming from their taps over the past few days can attribute it to a routine annual event: the yearly change in water supply from the Swimming River reservoir to the borough’s own wells.
For six months a year, the state requires the borough to draw water from the reservoir operated by NJ American Water. The move is designed to prevent water level in the wells from going so low that saltwater could infiltrate them.
For the other six months, water is drawn from the borough’s own wells, located on Chestnut Street and atop Tower Hill.
When the switch is made, as it was last week, sediment in pipes can cause temporary discoloration of water, borough officials said.
“They system stirs up when this is happens much like hydrant flushing,”‘ said Borough Manager Jim Gant. “Residents should take the same steps as with flushing, by running their water until the discolored water disappears.”
Red Bank’s artesian wells have been a treasured borough asset since they were dug in the wake of two devastating fires in the 1880’s. A November 22, 1899 edition of the Red Bank Register has an article about Red Bank officials resisting an effort by the company creating the new reservoir to buy Red Bank’s water works.
That resistance to turn the system over to private hands continues with the present council, who extolled the virtues of public ownership most recently last year when they approved a series of water rate hikes to cover rising costs and much needed capital projects on the aging system.
redbankgreen editor Brian Donohue may be reached via email at [email protected] or by calling or texting 848-331-8331 or yelling his name loudly as he walks by. Do you value the news coverage provided by redbankgreen? Please become a financial supporter if you haven’t already. Click here to set your own level of monthly or annual contribution.
