Despite Drought Watch, Local Aquifer Is In 'Very Good Shape'

Mayor Jim Sandham said that the current drought watch issued for Morris County by the state department of environmental protection is not a major concern for Montville.

"I spoke to [water and sewer supervisor Doug Laird] and he said that our aquifer is in very good shape thanks to rainfall over the last few years," he said at the township committee meeting on Aug. 10. "There is no concern at this point in time."

The drought watch, which was issued on Aug. 5 by the DEP and affects Morris and four other northern New Jersey counties, was issued in response to "serious drops in some reservoir levels, especially the North Jersey District Water Supply Commission's Wanaque and Monksville reservoirs, and United Water Company's Oradell reservoir," according to a statement released by the DEP.

According to the township's water quality report, over 90 percent of Montville's drinking water comes from the Towaco valley aquifer, which runs under Towaco, Lincoln Park and Kinnelon. Rainwater and mountain streams replenish the aquifer.

According to the DEP's drought information website, the area's drought watch is still in effect. Ground water levels and 90-day stream flow levels are currently categorized as "severely dry," while the 90-day precipitation and state reservoir levels are classified as "moderately dry."

The national weather service is predicting thunderstorms in the area for Thursday and Friday.