This story is developing and will be updated as further information becomes available.
Water on campus may have “changes in [its] taste and odor,” according to New Jersey American Water (NJAW), one of the water providers to the University. According to the company, despite this, the water still meets “state and federal drinking water standards.” NJAW recommends that if users notice discoloration, they should “run the cold water taps only, at the lowest level of the house for about three to five minutes until the water runs clear.”
NJAW provides water for “most Princeton residents,” according to the Princeton Municipality. NJAW also provides water to faculty and staff housing, as well as campus drinking water, according to University websites.
University Housing Operations notified campus members with a message from NJAW this morning. As of Thursday afternoon, the University has received “only a handful of complaints from campus water users related to odor and taste,” according to University spokesperson Jennifer Morrill.
“We encourage campus water users to follow NJ American Water’s recommendation …We continue to monitor the situation,” Morrill said in a statement to The Daily Princetonian.
According to updates on the company website, NJAW first announced that they were aware of reports of bad taste and discoloration on Dec. 18. Since then, the company has pushed several updates saying that they have been flushing hydrants to “clear the system,” as well as taking samples from the water. The latest update, published at 5:23 p.m., says that the water meets state and federal drinking water standards.
NJAW did not respond to requests for comment by the time of publication.
Myra Ridhuan ’27, who lives in 1976 Hall, told the ‘Prince’ that she noticed an unusual taste in her drinking water yesterday.
“Yesterday morning is when I really started to notice that [the water] tasted a little funky.” Even after repeatedly washing her water bottle, the unusual taste remained, she said. Ridhuan said that she never previously had issues with the water stations.
“It kind of tastes like what you smell after a rainy day when you’re passing by some moist dirt,” Ridhuan told the ‘Prince.’
Clara Steege ’27 first noticed a change in taste yesterday in a dining hall. “After I saw the email from Housing Operations, I figured they would let us know if it was a more serious issue. Today, after I filled my water bottle at a bottle filler, I thought it tasted too bad to drink,” Steege told the ‘Prince.’
Xavier Frank ’28, who also lives in Butler, told the ‘Prince’ that the water has been “foggy,” and says that he knows people who have bought Brita filters as a result.
“I’m excited to go home so I can drink water again,” he said.
This change in water comes as many students have already left campus and more continue to leave after completing finals.
Christopher Bao is an assistant News editor and the accessibility director for the ‘Prince.’ He is from Princeton, N.J. and typically covers town politics and life.
Leela Hensler is a News contributor for the ‘Prince.’
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