The City of Hackensack has taken another step toward improving water quality and reducing flooding through a newly signed Administrative Compliance Agreement with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the Borough of Fort Lee, the Village of Ridgefield Park, and the Bergen County Utilities Authority (BCUA). This agreement outlines long-term measures to reduce combined sewer overflows (CSOs), helping to protect the health of the Hackensack and Hudson rivers.
“This agreement marks a significant step forward in our ongoing efforts to improve water quality and reduce flooding in Hackensack,” said Mayor John Labrosse. “By working collaboratively with the DEP, Bergen County Utilities Authority, and our neighboring municipalities, we are making critical infrastructure investments that will have lasting benefits for our residents and the health of the Hackensack River. Clean water and resilient infrastructure are essential to our city’s future, and we are committed to continuing this progress.”
The agreement is part of the Murphy Administration’s broader efforts to improve New Jersey’s waterways by mitigating the impact of aging combined sewer systems. These systems, which collect stormwater and wastewater in a single pipeline, can overflow during heavy rain events, leading to street flooding and pollution of local waterways.
Under the agreement, Hackensack and its partners will implement projects aimed at separating combined sewer systems and reducing CSO discharges. Some separation projects have already been completed, resulting in reduced flooding and improved environmental conditions in affected areas.
The DEP continues to work with municipalities across the state to address combined sewer overflows by providing low-cost funding opportunities to support necessary infrastructure improvements.
For more information on combined sewer overflows and the steps the DEP is taking to address this issue, visit www.nj.gov/dep/dwq/cso.htm.