“The Ridgewood Water System is unlike many other systems as it relies on a system of over 45 wells, associated treatment systems, piping, storage and more. These appurtenances have their limits and become extremely stressed when there is noncompliance with watering restrictions during a drought condition”
The candor is indeed refreshing, but it does point out that we are relying on an ancient, decrepit water pumping infrastructure that’s not adequate to our needs. This situation has been ongoing for at least 35 years. Without drastic (Level IV) water restrictions, we run the risk of being unable to fight fires. This is not a particularly extreme drought, but we’re already at the limit of our ability to enforce conservation. And what’s the solution to the problem? Deploy the uniformed services — the ones with the guns — and impose drastic fines
This is not merely oversight; it borders on negligence. It’s exactly the performance we’ve come to expect from public utilities. It’s time to fix this.
Council minutes Work Session ..JANUARY 28, 2009
Valley View Water tank originally was to be 100 foot diameter 1.7 million gallon.
Residents of the Heights got water tank size down to 75 foot 1.13 million gallon
“Mayor Pfund added that he thought that the Ridgewood Water Company actually did a very good job in reaching out to the community. He also congratulated the residents for bringing the size of the tank down from a 1.7 million gallon, 100-foot diameter tank to a 1.13 million gallon, 75-foot diameter tank.”
https://www.ridgewoodnj.net/minutes/WORK1.2809.htm
The council meeting minutes 2/13/2008 – comments from group of 100 Heights residents opposing the 100 ft diameter tank. The chief engineer at that time even stated if it were up to him, he would build the tank even bigger than the originally proposed 100 ft tank.. The resident living adjacent to tank property, has since sold her house 12/2012. google 69 Valley View, adjacent water tank property is 71 – 73 valley view.
https://www.ridgewoodnj.net/minutes/PUBLIC2%201308.htm
Build a bigger tank ? Property values of expensive homes decline = lower property taxes .
Who makes up the deficit? Other homeowners, such as the east side.
Be careful what you wish for.
you dont think building high density housing in Ridgewood is going to lower property values???
On topic: there is a solution. Do as is done in fla. rather than put the treated effluent from the sewe plant into the Brook, pipe it around as a supply of non-potable water. There should be federal funds available if someone found a creative way to reuse a limited resource .problem solved
If the current water storage tanks, wells, pumps, are not sufficient to meet current summer time peak demands (as Peak summertime demands are not the design standard, Average daily demands are the standard), what would happen with future growth as in the proposed appartments? There might not even be sufficient water supply for average household daily demands, let alone for firefighing. We can forget about outdoor irrigation of any kind completely, and become a cement city.
Additional larger capacity storage tank, wells and pumps, at another location in Ridgewood, should be addressed now. Other towns serviced such as Wyckoff has shown population growth, building expansion since the 1997 water study.
https://mods.ridgewoodnj.net/pdf/water/08VVFAQs.pdf
Review of 1997 study referenced in 2008 “Valley View Storage Tank Replacement study, indicated “minor additional demand might occur in decade or over several decades, not focusing on future demand should it occur, saying future change would be minimal. The sizing of the Valley View Tank should be a viable solution for many decades into the future.”
“Population growth has not markedly changed in the last 30 – 40 years. The minor amount of growth that has occurred in the last two decades can be characterized as in-filling (e.g. one house is torn down and two or three are built in its place). There is little room for development of any significance throughout the entire system that will have any impact on typical daily demands.
“The project is for regional public good. True, the project more directly services a particular area, but that area houses numerous properties that service the general public good – Ridgewood High School, GW Middle School, Village Hall, the downtown area, Valley Hospital, etc.”
Reference was made to the E.Glen and N. Monroe as possible sight . Study shows there are 4 other tanks with larger capacity 2,000,000 gallons, and 1 tank with 2,5000,000.gallon at locations Wyckoff, Glen Rock, E. Saddle River Rd, Ridgewood. Referenced other locations with lesser capacities.
https://mods.ridgewoodnj.net/pdf/water/08VVFAQs.pdf
Never mind fixing it just sell it.