photo courtesy of the Village of Ridgewood
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, congratulations to Ridgewood Water on receiving the “Our Water’s Worth It” award! This recognition highlights the company’s contributions to water conservation and sustainability efforts. However, the award has raised eyebrows among residents and community members.
Concerns Over Violations and Health Risks
A quick question arises: Is it typical to present a prestigious award to a company with numerous violations, specifically around compliance and public notice? Ridgewood Water has faced significant scrutiny for its track record in four communities dealing with higher rates of breast, brain, and pediatric cancers, with Ridgewood Water cited as the only common pathway for toxins.
Evaluating the Risk to Customers
What was the risk to Ridgewood Water’s customers during the years of serious violations? These violations, which persisted over an extended period, have caused concern about the potential health impacts on the affected communities. It’s crucial to understand whether the awarding body considered these risks ahead of the planned celebration.
Residents and stakeholders are questioning the decision to honor Ridgewood Water without addressing the serious compliance issues and the potential health risks posed to their customers. The community seeks transparency and accountability from both the awarding body and Ridgewood Water, ensuring that public health and safety remain the top priority.
Moving Forward
As the celebration of this award unfolds, it is essential to reflect on the importance of upholding high standards in public health and safety. Addressing past violations and ensuring future compliance should be integral to any recognition. The community deserves assurance that their well-being is not compromised in the pursuit of accolades.
This award presents an opportunity for Ridgewood Water to acknowledge past shortcomings, commit to corrective actions, and rebuild trust with the communities they serve. Only through transparency and accountability can they truly earn the respect and recognition this award signifies.
According to DEP Records:
2007– 2011
- Failure to comply with the Administrative Consent Order (ACO) terms and conditions entered into with the NJDEP. Specifically, Ridgewood Water Department was required to install a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition System (SCADA) on or before December 1, 2007. The SCADA system was not completed until calendar year 2011.
- Failure to comply with the Consumer Confidence Report Rule as specified in 40 CFR 141.152 which requires water systems to prepare a Consumer Confidence Report annually, containing the previous year’s data, and submit it to both their customers and the Department. They did not achieve this until 2017. They were found to be in violation in 2007 and told to complete by 2011. They waited 10 years.
1998
- Failure to Perform Adequate Volatile Organic Sampling. Failure to conduct or submit VOC monitoring results for POE#24 during 7/98-9/98
- Failure to submit accurate information regarding disinfectant feed on the December 1998
1999
- Failure to comply with MCLs. Failure to comply with the MCL for Tetrachloroethylene at the Ravine point of entry in 1999.
2000-2001
- Failure to perform adequate Nitrate sampling at the following points of entry between 2000 and 2001
- Failure to perform adequate Volatile Organic sampling at the following points of entry
2005– 2007
- Violation Details: NJ MCL for SOLIDS, TOTAL DISSOLVED (TDS) for the period 01-01-2005 to 12-31-2007 for the following sample point ID: TP002003 EDER TREATMENT HOUSE
- Failure to monitor for disinfection byproducts (both Total Trihalomethanes and Haloacetic Acids) and/or submit a compliance sampling report to the Department
2006– 2008
- Failure to comply with the Action Level (AL) for lead set forth in 40 CFR 141.80(c)(1).
Violation Details: LEAD ACTION LEVEL EXCEEDED for LEAD for the period 01-01-2006 to 12-31-2008
2007
- Failure to Perform Adequate Nitrate Sampling at the Russell treatment plant
- Failure to Perform Adequate Volatile Organic Sampling during the required quarter at TP012035
- Failure to obtain a permit from the Department prior to constructing or modifying a public community water system
- Failure to monitor for an individual inorganic and/or submit a compliance sampling report to the Department
- Violation Details: MONITORING, ROUTINE MAJOR for SODIUM for the period
2008
- Failure to obtain Safe Drinking Water Construction Permits prior to any modifications or additions to any source, treatment or storage unit and/or failure to submit a CCC upon completion of the permitted construction project. Ames well field treatment modifications not yet DEP-approved and no water main extension permit yet able to be issued by NJDEP for the Willow Pond development.
- Failure of the licensed operators to have readily available written detailed operations and maintenance (O&M) procedures as required by the regulations. Ridgewood isin the process of developing of this document.
- Preventative maintenance and basic housekeeping activities could be improved.
- Failure to conduct nitrate monitoring as required by the federal regulations.
- Failure to maintain all floors, dry wells, meter pits, interconnection chambers, piping galleries and similar structures not intended to contain water self-draining without possibility of backflow. Specifically 2 of the Carr well pits were flooded.
- Failure to have a discharge pipe from each well provided with a check valve located between the pump and any blowoff, bypass or other connection to the discharge pipe. In other words, the sodium hypochlorite injection point is on the well pump side of the check valve, rather than on the system side of the valve.
2009
- Exceeded lead action level in 2008
- Failure to obtain Safe Drinking Water Construction Permits prior to any modifications or additions to any source, treatment or storage unit and/or failure to submit a CCC upon completion of the permitted construction project. Still no permit issued for construction of water lines in the Willow Pond development in Wyckoff.
- Failure of the licensed operator to have readily available written detailed operations and maintenance (O&M)procedures as required by the regulations.
- Failure to Perform Adequate Nitrate Sampling
2011
- Failure to comply with the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for inorganic contaminants as set forth in 40 CFR 141.62(b). The running annual average exceeded the MCL.
- Violation Details: MCL, AVERAGE, WITHOUT NO. EXCEEDANCE for ARSENIC for the period 01-01-2011 to 03-31-2011
2013
- Waiver issued for Abestos monitoring in water ?
- Waiver issued for Pesticide monitoring in water ?
- Lead action level exceeded
- VOC removal
- Failure to conduct nitrate monitoring as required by the federal Regulations.
- Failure to Submit a copy of the completed public notification and a certification by 08/09/2012
2014
- Failure to measure the disinfectant residual level in the distribution system at the same time and place as total coliforms are sampled as specified in 40 CFR
- Failure to collect at least 90% of the required samples as specified in 40 CFR 141.74(c)(3) and/or submit a compliance sampling report to the Department
2015
- Ridgewood Water Department is not routinely reporting Static Water Levels as required by the Permit.
- Non functional analyzer/recorder and take a daily grab sample of the disinfectant residual entering the distribution system
- Failure to install permanent corrosion control treatment following Pb ALEs.
2016
- Failure to comply with the Consumer Confidence Report Rule as specified in 40 CFR 141.152 which requires water systems to prepare a Consumer Confidence Report annually, containing the previous year’s data, and submit it to both their customers and the Department
- Failure to monitor for the effectiveness and reliability of treatment of the ground water source and submit a compliance sampling report to the Department
2017
- Failure to monitor for the effectiveness and reliability of treatment of the ground water source and submit a compliance sampling report to the Department
2019
- Ridgewood Water Department failed to conduct sufficient bi-weekly Water Quality Parameter monitoring as required by the Lead and Copper Rule during the 2nd half of 2016, the 1st half of 2017, and the second half of calendar year 2017.
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The Whistleblower Guy sure likes to get into pictures….
Not sure why. I wouldn’t if I was him…just sayin’
I can look at his face anymore
*cant
Do you get this award for leaving POISION in the water ?
When you belong to a clan of poisoners, my guess would be yes.
Was this a political stunt to help Mayor Vagianos with his upcoming re-election? That is what it looks like.
Paul Vagiano’s has failed as Mayor, things in Ridgewood have not improved and things have gotten worse. Do you want another 4 years of this? Please vote NO
-Residents paying a premium for municipal water while having to purchase bottled water because they cannot drink the water which will only be clean by a proposed timeframe of 2 more years
– Failed Pedestrian Plaza
-Business district not thriving with 23 vacant storefronts
– Pushed for $60k on designer garbage cans, now overflowing all over town
-Village staff morale is at an all time low and financial furlough was a near miss last year
-Higher than normal PFAS level in municipal water with 2 more years to go until you can drink it
-Soil contamination at historic property with known contaminents
-Alleged soil dumping at Habernickel currently untested and not being addressed/discussed
-Town Garage property purchase remained a secret until news broke-remediation will be requried.
-Numerous special interest projects take priority like a $350k+ special pavillion to be built at Habernickle and multi sports complex planned for Schedler
-$4 million Feed the Frontlines money with no traceable receipts
-$47k mortgage loan to Parks & Rec/Conservation Chair and law firm partner with billboard application in front of Ridgewood’s Zoning Board
-not prioritizing safety projects or flooding early in his tenure because of special interests
-Relationship with TapInto Ridgewood? TBD
VOTE NO TO ANOTHER 4 YEARS OF BLIND SPENDING
Relationship with Tap Into Ridgewood is most certainly not TBD . . . We KNOW that the owner/operator of Tap Into Ridgewood is Jason DeAlessi is also the owner/Operator of the Fuerza Strategy Group who ran Paul Vagiano’s campaigns. DeAlessi was his campaign manager for Gods sake.
Paul’s campaign treasurer wa an employee at Fuerza Strategy group and Donations were sent directly to Fuerza / TapInto
“In addition to publishing TAPinto Ridgewood, DeAlessi works as the Managing Partner of Fuerza Strategy Group, which specializes in public affairs and marketing.” Paul is essentially a partner at TapInto. es you read that right the editor of the TAP for Ridgewood is a Democratic operative who ran Paul Vagianos last New Jersey Assembly campaign . In fact if you take a look at the Fuerza site , Vagianos is all over it in cameos.
TapInto is owned and published by Jason DeAlessio, who also owns Fuerza Strategy Group. DeAlessio and his team at Fuerza Strategy ran Paul Vagianos’ campaign. DeAlessio was Pauls campaign manager and a member of the Fuerza staff was the treasurer. Just take a look at the Fuerzw website where Paul is prominently featured “Our Work – Paul Vagianos for Ridgewood!” Pauls campaign and Fuerza shared the same address in Kinnelon where DeAlession works. DeAlessi is still, apparently working out of his parents basement and using a UPS box at he UPS Store in Kinnelon . . . . hysterical
TapInot should really put up a disclaimer on their website noting this extremely close, and dare I say, biased affiliation. Paul is PAYING TAP INTO directly.
Come on people- this VC did not create the PFAS issue. I don’t like my bills going up more than anyone else, but at least they are fixing it and taking advantage of a TON of federal/state grants.
As for the photo op, yes it is a bit cheesy but what the hell, who really cares?
I want clean and safe drinking water and this crap takes time. I don’t agree with a lot of what the current VC is doing, but at least they are fixing the problem. The last administration put their focus on buying/building a new Ridgewood Water HQ. Tell me how that helps us have safe drinking water?
Exactly. Ridgewood received one of the very first grants ($3M) from EPA a few yeara ago thanks to Susan Knudsen.
He has to go.
Where did that 4 million go that was given to Healthbarn? And where is feed the frontlines now?
Why is it untraceable when it was tax payers money? Does Ramon know? he started feed the front lines. He should know?
Why all these pet projects especially for healthbarn taking priority over the towns maintaining streets and parks.? Do these favors have to do with the 4 million dollars?
Too many unanswered questions while this guy is in office. Too many weird things that have to do with our tax dollar?
He can’t stay. And on top of it the lack of concern of possible toxic soil at Habernickle and shedler.
Also Are we given that water at restaurants in town and other businesses?
Paul Vagianos is doing God’s work.
More like he’s doing the Devils bidding. That much is obvious. He probably sold his soul out to the highest bidder. A former lawyer married to a former judge and yet he has lied, manipulated and flip flopped more that a secada in the summertime. We cannot let this guy have another 4 years to officially ensute our village in the crapper.the ego driven agendas of the majority council is hurting us.
Recall that Lloyd Blankfein said he was also doing God’s work and you’ll get the joke.
Ah, googled and yes, just another douchebag like Vagianos, IMO. People who’s egos are so blown out of proportion that they actually believe they are doing good. Again, I believe if he ever had a soul, he sold it to the highest bidder and Ridgewood residents are paying the price and will continue to do so until he is out of office. Unfortunately, we don’t hav anyone good on the council except for 1 independent thinker. The other boobs are not strong enough to be a mayor, one lacks the intellectual capacity and never stops talking, one is half asleep or wants to go home to go to sleep and the other one lacks the capability to be a leader. But the message from Ridgewood residents is that Vagianos has to go before he ruins the village.
I wouldnt exactly say Paul was a lawyer….he went to law school and obtained his JD. He hasnt practiced in decades and even during his few active years, there is no record of him doing anything of significance.
He’s done nothing of significance EVER. Lawyer my ass. Any freshly minted JD could mop the floor with him.
Perfect example of why people don’t trust the government or agencies. Our water has contamination issues ! They get an award for failure- disgraceful
Today’s: society, govt, education and politics reward failure- no one is held accountable.
It’s only “failure” from the POV of those who are being “failed,” i.e. those who have the expectation that the institutions are there to serve them. Those who operate the institutions understand, however, that their objective is not to serve, but rather to exploit. So, what you see as failure, from a different POV is actually success, and that is why these people “fail upwards.”
Especially our local government, Mayor Paul Vagianos, Siobahn Winograd, Evan Weitz and Pam Perron. All bad for Ridgewood. Vote No to and keep the 2 faced greenwasher bee man away from the dais as well. they want all council to vote in lock step to support their special interest projects, so this will mean more benefits for their special friends. Please say no so that we can get the village back to normal.
Their is an exploitation of a vulnerable village that put their trust in these people and there is no accountability.
Please make it stop.
Many residents are very angry over the taste of the water. And yes, we are using the word angry. Like it or not.
They would be a lot angrier is we hooked up to surface water which, by regulation, must use 4X the amount of chlorine used for aquifer water. High levels of chlorine are needed to disinfect surface waters; 4x less is used to disinfect aquifer water.
Since when is the word “angry” not appropriate? We are angry at our whole town situation.
The Director of water said a few years back to someone that you cannot use the word angry. Can you imagine this logic. Yes it’s true. It’s all kindergarten bullshit. And yes, you can use the word. Angry anytime you want freedom of speech. If the Director of water doesn’t like it .well guess what, go take a walk. It’s too f”in bad.
So we know that we cannot drink the water, but we are showing in it and people are filling their pools with it. Let the PFAS Paulie party rock on.
So many of us been so angry for so long regarding Ridgewood water what did they do to the taste? It used to be amazing the past four years it’s horrible and it’s amazing that the Director of the water actually told an individual that you can’t use the word angry can you believe that. we would love to inform him of that because they’re so wrong. Talking about being misguided, We wonder where he was getting his information from. To my fellow, friends, neighbors employees if you are angry about something voice, your opinion, because you’re allowed to don’t you anyone silence you.
People should start posting their bills so we can see what is going on and what the surcharges are for an extra helping of PFAS. Where will the money go from the Ridgewood water lawsuit once it has been settled? Millions upon millions will be awarded I am sure. Will this go to resident lawsuits?