Olympian Water Testing™

Morristown New Jersey water supply history commenced in the early 18th century with settlers relying on private wells, cisterns, springs, and rivers like the Whippany in this Morris County seat, incorporated in 1865, as detailed on Morristown’s Wikipedia page. Droughts in 1797-1798 spurred organized efforts amid growing population needs.

Well water systems in Morristown NJ evolved with the 1799 chartering of the Morris Aqueduct Company, New Jersey’s first water utility, sourcing from Mount Kemble springs via wooden pipes to a reservoir at Ann Street. Expansions in the 1800s included reservoirs like Jones Woods and Bailey Hollow, transitioning from individual wells to gravity-fed networks, as chronicled in the Morristown Green article. By the mid-19th century, steam pumps and iron pipes improved distribution, serving homes and fire hydrants.

Municipal water development in Morristown, NJ, advanced when the town acquired the Aqueduct Company in 1923, building the Clyde Potts Reservoir in 1930 and introducing chlorination treatment in 1935. Post-World War II growth led to additional wells in the Buried Valley Aquifer and booster stations, per SMCMUA’s early history. In 1977, the Southeast Morris County Municipal Utilities Authority (SMCMUA) took over, now sourcing from Clyde Potts Reservoir and 13 wells, treating and distributing to 62,000 residents across 300 miles of mains.

Regulated by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, the system monitors contaminants like arsenic and PFAS, with data from the Environmental Working Group showing levels above health guidelines but compliant with legal limits, reflecting ongoing upgrades since the shift from private wells.