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Ridgewood NJ, The debate over artificial turf in Ridgewood has taken a “disquieting” turn following the recent Joint Fields Committee meeting. As the community weighs the pros and cons of synthetic versus natural grass, comments made by Superintendent Dr. Mark Schwarz have sparked a wave of questions regarding student safety and scientific transparency.
Ridgewood Water Spends $117M on 12 Plants to Strip Cancer-Linked ‘Forever Chemicals’ from Tap Water
photo courtesy of Ridgewood Water
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, The Urgent $117 Million Mission to Erase PFAS . Ridgewood Water, a utility serving over 61,000 customers across Ridgewood, Wyckoff, Midland Park, and Glen Rock, is currently engaged in one of the most ambitious and costly water clean-up efforts in New Jersey history. The utility is building a total of 12 new treatment facilities—a system characterized by its director as “likely one of the largest in the state”—specifically designed to filter out PFAS, the notorious “forever chemicals,” from its well supply.
The total estimated cost for the 12 projects is a staggering $98 million to $117 million, with completion expected by March 2027.
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MIDLAND PARK, NJ — Ridgewood Water has taken another major step forward in its $150 million PFAS mitigation project, with the delivery of four massive Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) vessels to the Wortendyke PFAS Treatment Facility in Midland Park. These vessels, manufactured by Calgon Carbon Corp., are among the largest available in the industry and mark a milestone in Ridgewood Water’s ongoing effort to ensure safe, clean drinking water.
Continue reading Ridgewood Water Expands PFAS Treatment in Midland Park with New Carbon Vessels
photo courtesy of Boyd Loving
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
RIDGEWOOD — While Ridgewood High School’s Stadium turf field recently passed ASTM G-max testing (the industry standard for measuring shock absorption and surface impact), community advocates are warning that this certification does not tell the full story when it comes to player safety or environmental health.
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TRENTON, NJ – In a major environmental victory, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette have announced a record-breaking $2 billion settlement to address widespread contamination from toxic PFAS chemicals and other pollutants. This is the largest environmental settlement ever reached by a single U.S. state.
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RIDGEWOOD, NJ — In a critical 2023 alert, the Children’s Environmental Health Center at Mount Sinai formally warned the Village of Ridgewood and the Board of Education about the health hazards artificial turf poses to children. Despite these concerns, Ridgewood officials are moving forward with a plan to install an additional 6 acres of artificial turf, sparking public outcry from health advocates and concerned parents alike.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood Water continues to make significant progress in its mission to eliminate PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) from local drinking water, with multiple treatment facilities already online and more scheduled to launch throughout 2025 and 2026.
Continue reading Ridgewood Water PFAS Treatment Facilities on Track for Full Operation by 2026
photo courtesy of the Village of Ridgewood
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood Nj, since 2015, Ridgewood Water has faced challenges with PFAS levels exceeding the limits set by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP). This ongoing issue raises concerns about transparency and the safety of tap water for Ridgewood residents.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette today presented the first Our Water’s Worth It trophy to Ridgewood Water for its efforts over the years to conserve water and to protect public health by addressing PFAS contamination. Ridgewood Water provides water service to approximately 61,000 consumers in four Bergen County municipalities.
the staff of The Ridgewood Blog
Responding to a citizen’s Facebook post regarding Ridgewood Water’s recent request to stop the use of lawn irrigation devices, Ridgewood Water’s Senior Engineer Jill Fasano wrote this about the “enormous amounts of water put on lawns:”
35 very concerned residents of Montclair
In a concerning parallel to Ridgewood’s proposed Schedler field, Montclair is also grappling with fears of PFAS contamination from artificial turf. The Montclair Board of Education (BOE) and School District claim that the turf they’re installing is PFAS-free, relying on a 2019 test provided by their contractor. However, a 2023 test proves otherwise, and even the manufacturer admits the presence of PFAS. Despite this, the BOE has been unresponsive for eight months and has now taken delivery of the artificial turf containing PFAS. To add to the frustration, their lawyers issued a statement suggesting, “nothing to see here.”
Continue reading The Battle Against PFAS in Montclair: A Community’s Call for Action
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Ridgewood NJ, as previously reported on the Ridgewood blog on April 10, 2024 the US EPA released the first national regulations on PFAS Compounds. Water Utilities around the country will now have 3 years to test their water sources and two additional years to take action such as installing treatment in order to be in compliance.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Hoosick Falls NY, Loreen Hackett faced the daunting challenge of battling cancer not once, but twice, before reaching the age of 50. Her first encounter with the disease occurred in her 20s when cancerous cells were discovered in her cervix, prompting her to undergo a hysterectomy at the young age of 28. Nearly two decades later, she found herself confronting cancer again, this time diagnosed with breast cancer.
Continue reading ‘Forever chemicals’ have been linked to Breast and Gynecological cancers
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Ridgewood NJ, no need to save for retirement, the head of the United Nations climate agency has issued a stark warning, emphasizing that humanity has a narrow window of just two years to enact significant changes in its approach to emitting heat-trapping gases. This urgent call to action is compounded by the pressing need to secure the necessary financial resources to facilitate this monumental transition.
Continue reading United Nations Climate Chief Says We Only Have Two Years Left to Save the Planet
