Feds Sue Passaic Valley Water Commission Over Uncovered Drinking Water Reservoirs
the staff of the ridgewood blog
Little Falls NJ, Federal and state authorities have taken legal action against one of Northern New Jersey’s primary drinking water providers. The U.S. Department of Justice and the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office have jointly sued the Passaic Valley Water Commission (PVWC), alleging the utility has violated the federal Safe Drinking Water Act for nearly two decades by leaving three key drinking water reservoirs open to the elements.
The Great Notch, Levine, and New Street reservoirs collectively store finished drinking water for approximately 800,000 residents across Passaic, Bergen, Essex, Hudson, and Morris counties.
Uncovered Reservoirs Present Serious Contamination Risks
Finished drinking water stored in open-air reservoirs is exposed to severe environmental hazards. According to public health officials, open reservoirs are susceptible to:
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Contamination from Stormwater & Runoff: Carrying pollutants and urban runoff directly into treated water.
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Animal Waste & Microbial Pathogens: Introducing dangerous parasites such as Cryptosporidium and Giardia lamblia, which cause severe gastrointestinal illnesses.
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Flooding Hazards: Hurricane Ida in 2021 caused severe flooding in the open system, resulting in a six-week water advisory for residents.
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Lead Surcharges: Open-air storage complicates system chemistry, impacting broader infrastructure goals like PVWC’s $72 million lead service line replacement project.
Under the EPA’s Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule, water utilities are strictly required to cover all finished-water reservoirs or provide additional treatment to maintain microbial protection.
Legal Action & Remediation Efforts
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, demands full compliance along with public notification and financial penalties:
| Action Item | Details & Financial Cost |
| Proposed Civil Penalty | PVWC faces a $132,500 fine alongside potential daily non-compliance fees. |
| Levine Reservoir Replacement | Ground broke in June 2025 on a $42 million project to replace the 20-million-gallon open reservoir in Paterson with two enclosed 2.5-million-gallon concrete tanks (scheduled completion: May 2027). |
| Great Notch & New Street Sites | Overhauls remain required to fully enclose or treat open-air storage serving downstream communities like Woodland Park, Paterson, Clifton, Passaic, Lodi, and North Arlington. |
Despite prior consent orders with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, the reservoirs have remained largely uncovered since 2009 due to long delays, high capital costs, and historic preservation debates.
Impacted Communities
PVWC distributes treated water from its Little Falls Water Treatment Plant to these open downstream reservoirs, direct retail customers, and 22 wholesale water purveyors across North Jersey. Residents in affected service zones are encouraged to monitor local municipal notices regarding ongoing system upgrades.
For more details on regional infrastructure projects, residents can visit municipal portals such as the Borough of Woodland Park or PVWC safety updates.
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