Olympian Water Testing™

Morris County New Jersey water supply history began in the 18th century with settlers relying on private wells, cisterns, springs, and rivers in this northern New Jersey region, as documented by the Morristown Green. Early communities like Morristown faced shortages during 1797-1798 droughts, prompting organized efforts.

Well water systems in Morris County dominated until 1799, when the Morris Aqueduct Company—New Jersey’s first water utility—formed to serve Morristown via gravity-fed wooden pipes from Mount Kemble springs. Expansions included reservoirs like Ann Street (1805) and Jockey Hollow, transitioning to iron pipes and steam pumps by the mid-1800s.

Municipal water development in Morris County, NJ, accelerated in 1916 with the North Jersey District Water Supply Commission’s establishment for regional supplies. Morristown acquired the aqueduct in 1923, building the Clyde Potts Reservoir in the 1930s. The Morris County Municipal Utilities Authority, founded in 1958, now draws from eight deep aquifer wells serving multiple townships, as outlined on MCMUA’s infrastructure page.

In 1977, SMCMUA took over Morristown’s system, sourcing from the Buried Valley Aquifer and treating for contaminants. The Environmental Working Group monitors levels of arsenic and PFAS, reflecting adaptations amid growth to 250,000 residents, blending municipal networks with private wells under state regulations.