WATER AUTHORITY HONORED BY PEERS

The Southeast Morris County Municipal Utilities Authority (SMCMUA) recently received an award for “Outstanding Forward Thinking” from the association representing all New Jersey Authorities.  The Association of Environmental Authorities (AEA) presented its prestigious WAVE award to Vice Chairman Edward A. Taratko, Jr. for SMCMUA’S leadership in permanently protecting and preserving the Clyde Potts Reservoir watershed lands.

Working with Randolph and Mendham Townships, the County Park Commission and the Morris Land Conservancy, SMCMUA added an additional 60 acres of potentially developable land to permanent open space in the watershed.  The $6.2 million program will eventually provide access across the watershed for the County’s Patriot Path system as well as expansion of the Mendham and Randolph Townships’ trail systems.

“Knowing that the watershed will be permanently protected from future development was an important factor in SMCMUA’S recent decision to expand the capacity of the treatment plant.  We expect to invest $5-6 million over the next 24 months to provide an additional two million gallons of surface water into the system,” Taratko said.  “Knowing that a large tract of land will not be developed adds value to the overall project.”

According to Harry G. Gerken, Executive Director, SMCMUA owns about 75% of the watershed that form the headwaters of the Whippany River.  “The Clyde Potts Reservoir and the lands surrounding it are among Morris County’s most desirable large land holdings.  The additional acreage and the permanent conservation easement will ensure that this land will always be used for water supply purposes and guarantee that almost 1000 acres will remain in open space in perpetuity,” Gerken said.

“We're honored to be honored by our colleagues at the AEA but this award would not have been possible without the close cooperation and forward thinking of Randolph, Mendham, the Park Commission and the Morris Land Conservancy.  Everyone worked very hard to make this project happen and, in the long run, the public will have a wonderful dividend."

When the papers are finally signed early this summer, SMCMUA will receive $3 million as consideration for the conservation easement.  SMCMUA is pledging to use those proceeds first for the acquisition of additional watershed and wellhead protection lands and has already committed almost $600,000 to acquire a 19 acre tract of available land around its Wing and Todd well fields.  “A Watershed/Wellhead Protection Master Plan is currently under preparation and we may be making further acquisitions later this year,” Gerken said. 

SMCMUA is Morris County’s largest public water purveyor serving Morristown, Morris Township, Morris Plains and Hanover Townships with limited service in Harding and Mendham Townships.      

AEA is a statewide organization of water, wastewater and solid waste authorities whose mission is to help authorities improve the environment through professional management and training.