Olympian Water Testing™

The Highland Park NJ water supply history chronicles the transformation of a small riverside community from agricultural settlement to modern suburban borough. Incorporated on March 15, 1905, when it separated from Raritan Township (now Edison), Highland Park’s water infrastructure development paralleled its rapid residential growth throughout the 20th century.

Located on the northern banks of the Raritan River, Highland Park’s early well water systems in Highland Park served scattered farmsteads and the small hamlet that emerged around the railroad station established in 1836. The area’s proximity to the Delaware & Raritan Canal and the New Jersey Railroad provided transportation links, but residents initially relied on private wells and the river for their water needs. The community’s elevation above the Raritan River, which gave Highland Park its name, provided natural drainage advantages for early water management.

Modern municipal water development in Highland Park began taking shape as the borough’s population exploded from 1,517 residents in 1910 to over 8,600 by 1930. Today, Highland Park receives its water supply through Utility Service Affiliates (Highland Park), which operates under a contract with Middlesex Water Company. This system serves approximately 13,000 customers through 38 miles of water mains and 239 fire hydrants, ensuring compliance with New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection standards.

The borough’s water infrastructure modernization reflects Highland Park’s evolution from a 19th-century ferry crossing to a thriving suburban community of over 15,000 residents. The transition from individual wells to a comprehensive municipal system demonstrates how small New Jersey communities adapted their water management to support sustainable growth while maintaining the high-quality service standards required for modern residential and commercial development.