šØš§ LAWSUIT ACCUSES NORTH JERSEY WATER UTILITY OF EXPOSING CUSTOMERS TO HEALTH RISKS
Federal and state officials are suing the Passaic Valley Water Commission for failing to protect three open-air reservoirs from contaminants like animal waste and parasites. The lawsuit seeks to force the utility to secure the sites after years of reported delays.
NORTH JERSEY ā A major public water supplier serving nearly 800,000 customers across North Jersey is facing a federal and state lawsuit over allegations that its open-air water reservoirs remain vulnerable to contamination from potentially harmful pathogens.
The U.S. Department of Justice and the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General filed a joint lawsuit on August 12 against the Passaic Valley Water Commission (PVWC).
PVWC provides water to communities including Paterson, Clifton, Passaic, Prospect Park, Lodi, North Arlington and parts of Woodland Park, along with numerous other municipalities and private water companies across Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris and Passaic counties.
š§ Three reservoirs at the center of the lawsuit
Officials say PVWC continues to operate three uncovered, open-air reservoirs:
ā¢ Levine Reservoir in Paterson ā¢ Great Notch Reservoir in Woodland Park ā¢ New Street Reservoir in Woodland Park
According to the lawsuit, uncovered reservoirs can be exposed to stormwater runoff, animal waste and other contaminants. Those pollutants can potentially carry parasites including Cryptosporidium and Giardia, which can cause gastrointestinal illnesses, including diarrhea.
š§ļø HURRICANE IDA IMPACT
The lawsuit points to flooding from Hurricane Ida in 2021, when stormwater contaminated the New Street Reservoir. The incident resulted in a boil water advisory affecting approximately 230,000 people across four communities for 43 days, according to officials.
āļø LONG-STANDING ISSUE
The legal action follows years of pressure on PVWC to secure its reservoirs. The commission entered into a consent order with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection in 2009 regarding the reservoirs.
The lawsuit seeks to require PVWC to complete the necessary reservoir improvements or otherwise treat the water in a manner that complies with the federal Safe Drinking Water Act.
šļø PVWC PROJECT UNDERWAY
PVWC says it has already begun a federally mandated project costing approximately $40 million to close the 20-million-gallon Levine Reservoir and replace it with secure, enclosed water storage tanks.
Environmental advocate Jeff Tittel, former director of the New Jersey Sierra Club, criticized the length of time it has taken to address the reservoirs, arguing that regulatory orders should lead to action rather than prolonged delays.
The lawsuit remains pending, and the allegations against PVWC have not been adjudicated.
š° Garden State News Network will continue monitoring the case and provide updates as more information becomes available.