Ridgewood water is not funded by taxes, it’s funded entirely by ratepayers (the water bill). It’s unfortunate but water is getting more expensive — more stringent water quality standards mean more treatment, which drives rates up. Also, in general, east coast water utilities are having to replace a lot of aging infrastructure which is nearing the end of its lifespan.
Ridgewood’s problem is that there is not enough storage for the comparatively high demands of summertime, when lots of people use automatic sprinklers to water their lawns every night. It’s a somewhat wasteful use of water, especially in the face of the droughts we tend to have in North Jersey, and I don’t mind dealing with some water restrictions to rein that in.
I remember that some years ago, Ridgewood did try to increase the capacity of one of its tanks ever so slightly (up on Valley View near Crest Rd) but the neighbors would have none of it.
United Water has had these same demand issues in places like Franklin Lakes where the water use has been a lot higher in the summer than in the winter because of lawn watering, pools, etc. They did take action and construct a large new storage tank on Shadow Ridge Rd, but they will turn around and use this large expense as a justification to raise water rates (Utilities both public and private are bound to justify their water rates). So not only will Franklin Lakes be consuming more water, they will pay more per gallon ($$$).
I agree that Ridgewood Water may not be as professional or “on top of things” as a larger organization. However, I wouldn’t like to see Ridgewood Water absorbed into a large, private water company. We would lose our nice-tasting well water (my opinion), control over our water rates, and the other benefits of having a small, local, public water utility
what benefits? this is a black hole of incompetence
Ha ! This is pretty funny. United Water will take whats left of the carcass after the municipal lawsuits are finished and Ridgewood tanks. Just wait until the town gets hit with that bill !
The storage capacity problem should have been delt with years ago. People who bought a house with a water tower in the backyard complained that they did not want a bigger tower.
The tower was for the greater good. All residents would have benefited.
A new water tower would look nice at the corner of Hudson and Broad. Nobody would notice it. It could expand the size of the footprint and extend into the street. Oh wait–that’s a dumb idea.
VOTE NO TO THE REFERENDUM ON JUNE 21.
Unclear if the writer believes less water used for lawns and pools – water that is PAID for by the homeowner – means the aging infrastructure does not need to be improved? Could the problem be mismanagement?
Aging infrastructure should have been replaced 6 years ago. They did a band aid fix. Water presure not improved.