Information on the Mountain Lakes Drinking Water Supply

Water for the Mountain Lakes system is derived from four production wells, two of which are located near the Rockaway River in Denville.  The primary well is located on Route 46 in Mountain Lakes, supplying approximately 80% of the total water used by homes and businesses in the Borough.

The Borough water supply is tested monthly for contaminants, in many cases more frequently than required by NJ Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) requirements.  As far as we know, the water has always tested within Federal drinking water standards and has never been deemed by NJDEP as unsafe for potable use.

Each month, the water supply is tested for the presence of tetrachloroethylene (also known as perchloroethylene or PCE).  PCE is a widely used solvent with applications as a dry cleaning agent, textile processing agent, degreaser, chemical intermediate, and fumigant.  Very low concentrations of PCE are regularly detected in our groundwater supply at concentrations of approximately one microgram per liter (one part per billion).  To protect drinking water supplies, the New Jersey maximum contaminant level (MCL) for PCE is one microgram per liter and the Federal MCL is 5 micrograms per liter.

Sources of contamination that may be contributing PCE to the aquifer we use likely date back many years or decades.  No current or ongoing releases of PCE to the environment in the vicinity of the water supply are believed to be occurring. 

An air stripper designed to remove these low levels of PCE and any other volatile compounds from the water before it reaches your tap began operation on February 16, 2000.  Since then, there have been no detectable levels of PCE or of any of the other compounds that are regularly monitored..

Additional information can be obtained by calling the Environmental Protection Agency's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791.

A Consumer Confidence Report, issued by the Mountain Lakes Water Department, dated 5/01/2009 was mailed to all Borough residents in July 2009.  For any questions regarding this report, please contact Borough Hall at 973-334-3131 or e-mail: .