Clifton Development News

Passaic Valley Water Commission Updates Clifton on System Status, Projects, and Challenges

Jim Mueller, Executive Director of the Passaic Valley Water Commission (PVWC), provided an update on the PVWC's system, ongoing projects, and challenges. He detailed the two main water sources (Wanakue Reservoir and Passaic River), the distribution system (650 miles of pipelines, 60% of which are 100 years or older), and recent accomplishments including the replacement of customer-owned lead service lines (completed Oct 2025, ~4,722 lines replaced, 33% in Clifton), hydrant replacement (~21% of 5,000 replaced), collaboration with NJ DOT for pipe replacement along Route 46 ($5M project completed Feb 2023), and water meter replacement (1,344 of 5,000 replaced by early May). Challenges include major failures in transmission mains (100-120 years old), site security, cybersecurity, a significant increase in water main breaks (116 in 2024, 155 in 2025), and regulatory mandates like PFOS treatment ($300-400M project deadline 2029-2031) and reservoir storage construction ($300-400M range). He also touched on discolored water issues, flushing zones, and system-wide upgrades such as generators at the treatment plant ($28M) and residuals handling upgrades ($31M contract). Mueller noted the upcoming Chittenden Road pipe replacement and a Fordham Road water main replacement starting soon. He also mentioned the Rave Alert system and encouraged residents to sign up. Council members raised questions about communication during water main breaks, potential credits for residents who lost water, and the duration of repairs versus replacements. A significant discussion also occurred regarding the restoration of lawns after water main work.