Newark advances new water and sewer utility complex, targets non-revenue water
Newark Water Department, New Jersey · Meeting date: May 20, 2026 · Published: May 26, 2026
The city council greenlit a property acquisition from the local housing authority to build a dedicated utility facility, alongside accepting a $492,000 EPA grant for acoustic leak detection.
Key points
- The council approved an ordinance to acquire 19 and 21 Lock Street from the Newark Housing Authority for a new water and sewer utilities complex.
- Residents urged the city to include emergency staff lodging in the new facility's design to ensure operational continuity during severe winter storms and major water main breaks.
- A $66.3 million temporary emergency appropriation was approved to cover water and sewer utility operating expenses ahead of the final 2026 budget.
- The city accepted $492,000 in EPA funding to deploy advanced acoustic leak detection equipment across its aging distribution system.
- Council members also approved a site access agreement for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to design flood mitigation structures along the Passaic River.
Full report
The Newark Municipal Council advanced several significant water infrastructure measures during its May 20, 2026, meeting, headlined by the approval of a property acquisition for a new, dedicated Water and Sewer Utilities Complex.
Under Ordinance 6PSF-e, the city's Department of Water and Sewer Utilities is authorized to acquire properties at 19 and 21 Lock Street from the Newark Housing Authority. The site will serve as the base for the development and operation of the new utility complex.
The facility's planning drew attention during the public hearing, with community members urging the city to design the complex with operational resilience in mind. Resident Donna Jackson requested public input on the facility's design and emphasized the need for emergency accommodations. She noted that utility staff require on-site lodging capabilities during major winter storms and severe water main breaks to maintain continuous service. Jackson also advocated for repurposing the department's existing facility into a pipe-fitting training center for local residents.
In addition to the facility acquisition, the council unanimously approved a $66.3 million temporary emergency appropriation to fund the Department of Water and Sewer Utilities' operating expenses until the formal adoption of the 2026 budget.
The city is also taking steps to address system efficiency, formally accepting a $492,000 grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its Water Monitoring Program. According to the meeting agenda, the funds will be used to procure and deploy advanced acoustic leak detection equipment to tackle significant non-revenue water (NRW) losses within Newark's aging distribution system.
Further advancing local water resilience, the council approved a site access and right-of-entry agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. The agreement allows for environmental testing and design work on the Passaic River Tidal Protection Area project, which aims to provide coastal storm risk management and flood mitigation for the city's Ironbound neighborhood.
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Source: Municipal Council Meeting, Newark Water Department