NJ penalizes M&U International for Raritan River chemical spill

By Alvin Wu
Domestic Affairs
NJ penalizes M&U International for Raritan River chemical spill

M&U International's location in Branchburg, N.J. M&U INTERNATIONAL/Handout

EDISON, N.J., Dec. 28 (ZFJ) — New Jersey authorities issued a notice of violation to M&U International on Monday, Dec. 23, for an unpermitted discharge in connection with a chemical spill that entered the Raritan River.

According to M&U International’s website, the company is a supplier of “synthetic and natural aromatic chemicals, food additives and essential oils.” Their facility in Branchburg, N.J., repackages these chemicals and is located within the watershed and upstream of New Jersey American Water (NJAW)’s surface water intake.

The N.J. Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP)’s Division of Water Supply and Geoscience posted on its website that, the night of Monday, Dec. 16, following odor complaints from a nearby resident, the Somerset County Office of Emergency Management responded to and conducted an initial cleanup of a spill at M&U International’s facility.

NJDEP and NJAW have since linked that spill to the recent change in odor and taste of water supplied from the Raritan River.

The compounds in the spill, most notably alpha-pinene, can be detected by odor at extremely low levels, and are commonly used as fragrances and food additives.

NJDEP and NJAW say that their testing shows that the water continues to meet primary state and federal drinking water standards and that no public health risk has been identified.

NJDEP says that NJAW has proactively adjusted its water treatment processes and performed targeted hydrant flushing to address the concerns. NJAW has also coordinated with the New Jersey Water Supply Authority for the release of additional water from Round Valley Reservoir to flush its source water.

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