Drinking Water

Over 90% of Montville's drinking water supply originates from the crystal-clear Towaco Valley Aquifer. This rechargeable basin is over 4.5 miles in circumference and is 200 to 250 feet deep. The Towaco Valley Aquifer extends under the Towaco section of Montville and parts of Lincoln Park and Kinnelon. The aquifer is naturally recharged by rainwater and mountain streams seeping down through the soil and rock.

The Montville Township Water Department maintains three wells to meet water needs for over 20,000 people daily. From three wells, an average of 1.9 million gallons of water is pumped daily from the aquifer. The water is systematically delivered to households, schools, and businesses from one of Montville’s six storage tanks, which store up to 6.5 million gallons of water. Through five strategically placed booster pumps the water is pushed to the different elevation levels throughout town. This system safely supplies the 1.5 million gallons per day (off-season) and more than 4.5 million gallons per day (peak summer season) which Montville residents and businesses require.

During the summertime peak usage period, the aquifer water is occasionally supplemented by a limited amount of water from the Jersey City Reservoir in Parsippany.

Limits

Drinking water is a limited resource. The Towaco Valley Aquifer has limits. On average, only 2 million gallons of water per day can consistently be removed. Additionally, the water table can only fall 70 feet below the surface of the earth before water cannot be removed.

Recharge & Demand

Rain and underground springs refill the Towaco Valley Aquifer. In recent years, however, excess water usage, increased population, and repeated droughts have tested the limits of water resources throughout the state of New Jersey. Effectively managing supply and demand is one of the primary roles of the Montville Water & Sewer Department.

How Much Water Do We Use? (.PDF)

Where's the Water Table? (.PDF)