My September 2, 2025 water quality complaint finally received a reply from NJ American Water Company on October 1, 2025. Bin Wang, Ph.D., P.E. from the NJ American Water Quality division, called me to explain what had caused our water to become so fizzy white. As Bin explained, air got introduced into the water. This could happen in a storage tank at the water treatment plant, or via a main break or other ways. Once the air is in the water, it dissolves under pressure, [about 40 pounds per square inch] and cool temperature [about 55 degrees Fahrenheit]. When a customer then draws a glass of water in their home, both the temperature and pressure change drastically, which causes the dissolved oxygen and nitrogen to come out of solution. Hence the white bubbly condition which lasts for about 30 seconds.
Bin said if water is somewhat yellow, it’s a sign that sediment may have entered the distribution system. If it’s the white fizzy scenario that we experienced in September, its likely dissolved air. Either way, the solution is flushing, which was accomplished by NJ American back on September 17, 2025. I noticed the water was clear on September 18th or thereabouts, which fits with Mr. Wang’s account.
Bin agreed that NJ American representatives should not describe the problem as a function of a “weather change”.
My call to NJDEP’s Bureau of Safe Drinking water revealed that my official complaint prompted staff to call NJAW on September 16th. The flushing by NJAW happened the very next day. The NJDEP representative stated she was convinced that the issue was water entrainment as described by Bin and that the flushing solved the problem.
QUICK FACTS ABOUT THE MOUNT HOLLY SYSTEM
Communities served: Mount Holly, Lumberton, Hainesport, Eastampton, Westampton, and Mansfield/Columbus in part. Water source: 9 Wells and surfaced water treated from the Delaware River. Average amount of water supplied to customers on a daily basis: 4.14 million gallons per day Disinfection treatment: Groundwater and surface water supplies are disinfected with chlorine to maintain water quality in the distribution system.
Want to know more?
https://www.amwater.com/NJAW/resources/pdf/ccr/mountholly_2024.pdf