United Water: Discolored Water in Hoboken is Safe to Drink and Use

Residents in Hoboken whose water is discolored or smells funny, do not have to worry, said Steve Goudsmith, director of communications at United Water. 

If your water looks or smells different than usual, you can put it in the fridge, Goudsmith said, to eliminate the odor. 

The color and the smell are caused by lower reservoir levels in the Boonton reservoir, Goudsmith said. Because temperatures have been high and rainfall has been low, he added, the level of the reservoir is lower than usual. 

The water "meets safety standards," Goudsmith said. 

He said United Water is working to fix the issue, but that it's still unclear when the problem will be resolved.

The color could be caused by sediments from the reservoir, which are "harmless," he added. United Water is in the process of working to flush out those sediments, he said.