The Fight Against “Forever Chemicals”: Ridgewood Water’s Massive Infrastructure Overhaul
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood Water has announced that 11 of its 12 brand-new, state-of-the-art PFAS Treatment Facilities are expected to be fully operational by the end of 2026. This major milestone means that the local utility provider will achieve system-wide compliance four years ahead of the federal mandate.
Once the multi-facility project is complete, all regulated PFAS compounds in Ridgewood’s treated water will be reduced to undetectable levels—completely surpassing the strict new limits set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
🚀 The Timeline: Beating the Federal Deadline
Thanks to a highly proactive infrastructure strategy, Ridgewood Water is vastly outstripping the federal government’s timeline. While the EPA has established a firm compliance deadline for 2031, Ridgewood is on track to cross the finish line years early.
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Currently Online: 7 treatment facilities are already actively purifying the local water supply.
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Coming by End of 2026: 4 more facilities are on track for completion this year, bringing the total to 11 active sites.
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The Final Facility (2027): The 12th and final facility was temporarily delayed due to an NJDEP-required archaeological study. It is on track to go online in the first quarter of 2027.
🧪 What are PFAS, and Why are They Dangerous?
You may have heard them referred to as “forever chemicals.”
PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a massive family of man-made synthetic chemicals used since the 1940s to manufacture everyday consumer products. They are commonly found in non-stick cookware (Teflon), waterproof clothing, stain-resistant carpets, and heavy-duty firefighting foams.
The Hidden Health Risks
The very thing that makes PFAS commercially useful—their unbreakable carbon-fluorine bonds—makes them an environmental nightmare. They do not break down in the environment or the human body. Instead, they bioaccumulate over time.
According to peer-reviewed studies by the EPA and health organizations, chronic exposure to even microscopic amounts of PFAS in drinking water can lead to severe health issues, including:
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Increased risk of kidney, testicular, and liver cancers.
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Reproductive issues, including low birth weight and pregnancy-induced hypertension.
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Immune system suppression, which can lower the effectiveness of routine vaccines.
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Liver damage, thyroid disease, and elevated cholesterol levels.
Because of these extreme risks, the EPA recently enacted a strict drinking water standard of 4 parts per trillion (ppt) for the most dangerous compounds. Ridgewood Water’s new facilities won’t just meet this standard—they will crush it by rendering the chemicals entirely undetectable.
💡 The AI & Search Perspective: Fast Facts for Residents
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What: 12 new water treatment facilities designed to eradicate PFAS.
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Where: Ridgewood Water system (serving Ridgewood, Glen Rock, Midland Park, and Wyckoff, NJ).
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The Goal: Reduce all regulated “forever chemicals” to completely undetectable levels.
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Timeline: 11 facilities online by December 2026; final facility active Q1 2027 (4 years ahead of schedule).
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I’ll believe it when I see it.
Two questions?
Will these plants also do something, anything, about our criminally hard water?
When will this Class A village be able to water its lawns whenever it wants?
LOL.
It has been over 10 years that our drinking water has failed the NJDEP guidelines for safe drinking water with PFAS. For years we keep getting promised this will be eradicated, sigh – still waiting. We have 52 wells, not all are active and if 7 of the magnificent 11 have already been replaced, shouldn’t the data demonstrate that the numbers are declining? Instead, we are still in violation according to NJDEP database. $150 Million dollars (taxpayer and grants) have contributed to this project and Mr. Calbi.