NJ Water Customers May Have 28-Year Wait for Safety Upgrades

September 9, 2026 | njspotlightnews.org

For almost 20 years, the Passaic Valley Water Commission, a utility that provides water to roughly 800,000 people, has operated three open-air reservoirs in violation of a federal safety regulation. 

Now a proposal pending in a federal court in New Jersey would shield the commission from any liability if customers get sick from tainted water — and give the utility until 2054 to comply with the rule.

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NJ SEED: It appears that the PVWC is relying on renewable consent agreements allowing more time to act rather than moving aggressively to comply. Solutions include physically roofing over three open-air reservoirs or developing alternatives. Either choice is massively expensive.