DEP To Hold Public Meeting On Drought Conditions in Northeast Region

Despite heavy rainfall in the area on August 22 and 23, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection is holding a public hearing in the Millburn library on Aug. 25, to discuss what the department characterizes as "a potentially critical water supply situation."

If water supply conditions worsen, the department may designate a drought warning for the state.

"[NJDEP] has determined that a potentially crucial water supply situation could develop in the northeast drought region," a statement on the DEP's website says. "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 drought region, which includes Montville Township, 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 drought levels in the area.

Montville Township water and sewer supervisor Doug Laird could not be reached for comment.

During a township committee meeting on Aug. 10, Mayor Jim Sandham said that the drought watch, initially issued by the DEP on Aug. 5 for Morris and four other northern counties, was not a major concern for the township. A drought watch is a less severe designation that the drought warning the NJDEP might consider if conditions worsen. 

"I spoke to [Doug Laird] and he said that our aquifer is in very good shape thanks to rainfall over the last few years," he said. "There is no concern at this point in time."

The DEP's initial watch was issued due to dry conditions throughout the area, as well as concerns about some of the area's reservoir levels. 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.

The aquifer was not one of the area reservoirs initially targeted as a point of concern for the DEP.

Should the DEP declare a drought watch, upgraded from a warning, 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 release.

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