Nearby Council Passes Resolution to Compel Changes from United Water

Government officials in Westwood approved a resolution Tuesday to hold United Water to its 1997 statement that it would lower reservoir water levels prior to heavy rainfall. They hope other municipalities will follow suit.

Borough Engineer Stephen Boswell went before the governing body Tuesday night to give a presentation about storm and waterway management in reaction to the flooding that occurred in Westwood in March and April. After getting the information, the governing body approved a resolution to compel United Water to lower the water surface elevation of the Woodcliff Lake reservoir to help reduce flooding.

Boswell said the Woodcliff Lake reservoir didn't cause the flooding in any of the recent storms. He went over data from the U.S. Geological Survey from the two storms in March and the one in April that caused flooding in Westwood and compared it to waterways in other parts of the state. He said flooding happened in many areas. 

"One of the comments that was said here and in New Milford is the reservoir caused flooding," Boswell said, explaining that in New Milford it was the Oradell reservoir while in Westwood it was the Woodcliff Lake reservoir. "But if you look at these graphs, you can see that reservoir did not cause the flooding and in fact made the flooding less worse than it would have been if there were no dam at all."

Boswell admitted, however, that flooding in Westwood could have been reduced if the starting water level in the Woodcliff Lake reservoir was lower than 91 feet, the level it has been kept at for more than a decade.

"If they were to lower it to 88 [feet] instead of 91 it would provide dramatically more protection for the citizens of Westwood," Boswell said.

He said that it's more likely United Water would be able to lower the reservoir levels during the winter months, Oct. 1 to May 1, when there is less demand.

Mayor John Birkner Jr. suggested the council "formalize a resolution that holds United Water to their longstanding, documented agreements that they would lower the gates to below 91 feet." He cited a letter from 1997 where the water company said it would make every reasonable effort to lower the reservoir to approximately 88 feet when heavy rain is predicted.

Borough Attorney Russell Huntington drafted a resolution during the meeting Tuesday to compel United Water to lower the winter reservoir levels, which members of the council unanimously approved.

A portion of the resolution reads, "The borough hereby demands United Water Company adopt a water management plan mandating an 88-foot level in the winter and a level as low as possible in the months of May to September."

Birkner suggested a copy be submitted to the commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection and the District 39 legislators. The council also plans to send copies to United Water and other municipalities within the Pascack Waterway Management District, along with the 1997 letter attached.