DEP to Hold Hearing on Northeast Water Supply

Despite heavy rainfall in the region within the past few days, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection is holding a public hearing in the Millburn library Wednesday morning to discuss what the department characterizes as "a potentially critical water supply situation."

The DEP has said that if water supplies conditions worsen, the department may designate a drought warning for the state. That would be a more severe designation than a drought warning already put into effect, encouraging voluntary water-reduction measures.

"[NJDEP] has determined that a potentially crucial water supply situation could develop in the northeast drought region," the department said. "This determination is based upon a relative lack of precipitation, above-average temperatures water supply demands, severely depleted groundwater levels and stream flows and upcoming scheduled maintenance at regional water systems."

According to the DEP's drought information website, the 90-day stream flow for the northeast region is categorized as "extremely dry," while ground water levels in the region are characterized as "severely dry." Both the 90-day precipitation and reservoir levels for the region are classified as "moderately dry."

The site, which was last updated on Aug. 18 before the area saw rainfall, does not appear to reflect current weather patterns and does not address if the recent precipitation has changed the water levels in the area.

The DEP designated a drought watch earlier this month due to dry conditions throughout the area, as well as concerns about some of the area's reservoir levels. The watch applied to Bergen, Passaic, Essex, Morris and Hudson counties, with the state asking residents to voluntarily conserve water.

Should the DEP declare a drought warning, upgraded from a watch, it would be able to "exercise its non-emergency powers and call for action to be taken by water suppliers to avoid or lessen the impact of a potential water emergency," according to the department.

Wyckoff residents have dealt with water restrictions for much of this summer that limit when and how long homeowners and businesses can irrigate their properties. Ridgewood Water has said the restrictions would be in place for its customers in the township, Ridgewood, Midland Park and Glen Rock for the foreseeable future, with sustained rainfall needed to lift the Stage III alert.

The township also recently received a draft version of an ordinance that would establish conservation procedures township-wide, beyond the mandates imposed by Ridgewood Water. Officials are not yet decided if they would adopt such an ordinance, or how restrictive its provisions would be if adopted.

The public hearing will be held at 10:30 a.m. at the Millburn library, 200 Glen Ave., Millburn. 

Nicholas Loffredo contributed to this report.