Green Water Due To Iron in Wells, Water Company Says

The tap water is slightly green. But it's safe to drink. And according to lab results returned yesterday, it's from iron in older wells.

New Jersey American Water reported those conditions yesterday evening after sampling water from a home on Lauderdale street in the Chadwick Island section of Toms River.

Lab results were returned from an Illinois testing facility, about two days after NJ American Water, which services the barrier island portion of Toms River, confirmed the water was safe to drink.

The results: The water has a slight greenish tinge due to elevated levels of iron in the water, said Peter A. Eschbach, the Director of Communications and External Affairs at New Jersey American Water.

He said the level of iron is safe to drink.

"The iron is naturally occurring, and does not represent a health risk," said Eschbach. 

It's the iron that is also turning the water green, he said.

"The area's water, which is taken from a local well, has always had iron in it, but once iron approaches 1 part per million (ppm), it becomes visible as a greenish tinge," Eschbach said.

Systems were flushed as a response to customer's reports of green water, said External Affairs Manager Richard Barnes.

Barnes said that the company tested the water and "it does meet state and federal guidelines for consumption."

The problem was reported by one resident, Barnes said, on Lauderdale. Elsewhere on the barrier island the problem has not been reported. The mainland of Toms River is served by United Water.

"We continue to test the water both at the well and throughout the system to monitor the levels," Eschbach said.

Any residents who experience discolored water are encouraged to contact American Water Contact information is available online.