Response from the City of Orange
Response from the City of Orange regarding their water quality and treatment processes
Water Source
The City's water source is fed from several wells within the South Mountain Reservation, located in Essex County. The South Mountain Reservation has remained virtually untouched throughout history and has been preserved primarily in its natural state. The Reservation spans over 2,000 acres and includes the Orange Reservoir and Orange's watershed, both owned and maintained by the City of Orange. Due to the location of the wells, the amount of heavy metals are typically very low.
Water Treatment Process
The water from the wells is pumped to Chestnut Street Pumping Station (CSPS), located in Orange, for treatment before it is distributed to the public for use. The current treatment process includes pH adjustment, phosphate addition and disinfection.
PFAS Treatment
The City of Orange installed a temporary PFAS treatment system at CSPS, prior to the contaminate becoming regulated. This temporary system is still in place and removes the PFAS contamination from the aquifer to non-detect levels. The City is currently in design phase to install a permanent PFAS treatment building, the project is expected to cost $15 million.
Disinfection Byproducts Management
The utility operations team regulates the chemical additions at CSPS to maintain the disinfection residuals at a point that ensures the water is properly disinfected. By maintaining proper levels of disinfection, the amount of TTHM's & HAA5's formed in the distribution system are reduced. TTHM's & HAA5's are disinfection byproducts, which are formed by improper disinfection practices.