Gottheimer continues fight against lead water, PFAS, forever chemicals harming families and kids
RIDGEWOOD, NJ (Bergen County) — U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer and Ridgewood Water Friday announced a request for federal investment to improve water treatment in order to combat “forever chemicals” harming the local water supply.
The publicly-owned utility has already spent several million dollars installing treatment technologies, but more investment is needed for Ridgewood Water to fully build the necessary drinking water treatment facilities to address lead in the water, PFAS, and other forever chemicals.
Ridgewood Water, which serves Ridgewood, Glen Rock, Midland Park, and Wyckoff, has been fighting back against polluters whose actions have contaminated surface and groundwater with forever chemicals like per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). In previous years, Ridgewood Water found evidence of PFAS in most of their 52 wells at levels that would exceed certain standards.
Gottheimer and Ridgewood Water have formally requested federal investment for the Ridgewood Water Drinking Water Treatment Facilities Construction project through Congress’ new Community Project Funding — for Ridgewood Water to meet NJDEP and EPA standards for non-detection levels by 2025.
“After hearing repeatedly from Ridgewood Water and many of our towns, including our mayors and councils, I recently requested federal resources to help our towns and water utilities update their equipment to address lead in the water, PFAS, and other forever chemicals,” Gottheimer said. “These are our tax dollars that, if approved and finalized by Congress, can be clawed back directly from Washington to help us here.
Gottheimer has also requested federal investment for water infrastructure improvements in Paramus, Saddle River, and in Sussex Borough, where a 100-year-old water utility system routinely suffers leaks.
Gottheimer was joined at today’s press conference by Ridgewood Mayor Susan Knudsen, Glen Rock Councilmember Amy Martin, Glen Rock Councilmember Jon Cole, Richard Calbi of Ridgewood Water, and other local leaders.
“Forever chemicals, such as PFAS, need to be filtered from our drinking water to non-detect regulatory levels. Ridgewood Water thanks Congressman Gottheimer for helping Ridgewood Water be PFAS free and recover funding for the treatment, to lessen the impact to the consumers, who didn’t put the contamination in the groundwater,” said Richard Calbi Jr. P.E., P.P., the Director of Operations for Ridgewood Water.
“Safe drinking water is essential and the Village is grateful for Congressman Gottheimer’s tireless efforts helping to address the costly remediation of PFAS contaminants,” said Ridgewood Mayor Susan Knudsen, whose community is serviced by Ridgewood Water.
“I am grateful to the Congressman for hearing our concerns and showing his support of our most vital resource,” said Glen Rock Mayor Kristine Morieko, whose community is serviced by Ridgewood Water.
