Montville Addresses Concerns Over Delayed Water Violation Notice

Officials clarify timeline, safety, and testing issues in response to public inquiries

Montville Township officials have responded to resident concerns following the September 2025 notification of a treatment technique violation in the township’s water supply system — an incident that originally occurred in October and November 2024.

The notification, categorized as a Tier 2 Public Notice, was issued after the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) formally cited the township in August 2025, citing a reporting issue related to chlorine residual levels in routine water samples. Residents questioned the nearly year-long gap between the initial incident and the public being informed.

Why the Delay?

According to the Montville Water & Sewer Department, the delay stemmed from NJDEP’s internal backlog, attributed to staffing changes. Although the potential violation occurred in late 2024, NJDEP issued the non-compliance letter in August 2025, triggering a required 30-day public notification period. After reviewing internal records and NJDEP correspondence, the agency ultimately adjusted the official violation date to August 2025.

Understanding the Violation

The issue concerned chlorine residuals—a key indicator of water disinfection. Public water systems are federally required to maintain detectable chlorine levels in at least 95% of routine monthly samples. In Montville, more than one of 20 monthly samples showed low or undetectable chlorine levels, which should have prompted additional testing called Heterotrophic Plate Count (HPC) sampling.

Although HPC samples were collected and came back negative—indicating no harmful bacteria were present—NJDEP found no record of those tests due to a reporting error between the township’s testing lab and the state’s new electronic reporting portal. This discrepancy led NJDEP to issue the formal notice, even though Montville's water remained safe to drink throughout.

Was the Water Safe?

Yes, according to officials. The negative HPC results confirmed that the water was not contaminated and remained safe for consumption during and after the sampling period. However, health-related warnings were still required in the public notification by NJDEP, especially to ensure individuals with weakened immune systems could seek medical guidance if needed.

Looking Ahead

Montville officials emphasized their commitment to transparency and encouraged residents to reach out with further questions. The Water & Sewer Department can be contacted at (973) 331-3330 for more information on water quality or the public notice.

“Montville Township has always been transparent to their residents and would be happy to answer any questions related to our drinking water supply.,” the department said.