Passaic Valley Water Commission outlines lead-line removals, new main work and flush program after months of discolored-water complaints
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Summary
At a Sept. 16 Clifton municipal council meeting, the Passaic Valley Water Commission said it has replaced nearly 1,600 customer-owned lead service lines in Clifton and outlined $20 million-plus near-term mains work, while urging residents who have not responded to replacement notices to contact the utility before fall work finishes.
Passaic Valley Water Commission officials told the Clifton Municipal Council on Sept. 16 they have substantially cut the number of lead service lines in town and will soon mobilize contractors to finish remaining replacements, while accelerating hydrant flushing and targeted main replacements to address recurring brown-water complaints.
The utility’s executive director, Jim Mueller, said the commission has replaced about 1,577 customer-owned lead service lines in Clifton since 2022 and that the multi-jurisdiction program is nearing completion. “Since 2022, PVWC has removed almost 1,600 customer‑owned lead service lines in Clifton,” Mueller said. He told council members the contractor will mobilize in the next few weeks to finish the last locations and to restore disturbed properties before winter.
Why it matters: residents across Clifton have reported frequent discolored water and damaged laundry, and some said they pay for bottled water. Council members and residents repeatedly pressed PVWC for concrete timelines and local fixes — not only long-term pipe replacement but also measures to reduce the frequency of brown-water events in the short term.
What PVWC said and will do - Lead lines and timeline: Mueller said about a third of the total regional replacements occurred in Clifton; 17 locations remain to be replaced and about 33 property owners have not responded to outreach. PVWC asked those households to contact the utility immediately; staff said the contractor will try to finish work ahead of winter and that the overall program (regional total about $36 million) includes roughly $27 million in state loan forgiveness. - Short‑term fixes: PVWC described an expanded flushing program — routine systemwide flushing plus quarterly or more frequent flushing in problem zones — and installation of automatic flusher devices in chronic spots. The utility said it will continue delivering replacement water or red bags when laundry is affected. - Water‑main investments: PVWC outlined near‑term construction plans that it expects to put under contract this fall: two on‑call construction contracts (advertised in September) valued at about $11 million each to address localized 6