Organizational Structure

In 1927 Passaic Valley Water Commission was created by an Act of State Legislature to acquire the privately owned water works system, Passaic Consolidated Water Company, for Clifton, Passaic and Paterson. The Articles of Agreement defining the role of the Commission were finalized in 1931. The following additional water systems were acquired by PVWC over time: Prospect Park (1937); Lodi (1997 lease agreement); and North Arlington (2005).

PVWC is also a partial owner (37.75%) of the NJDWSC. That entity was created by statute in 1916, with the authorization to “develop, acquire, and operate a water supply system for use by any municipality in the “North Jersey District” defined as the 12 northernmost counties of the State of New Jersey”. In 2023 PVWC paid $9,657,696 to the NJDWSC to fund the annual budget, proportional to PVWC’s ownership share.

PVWC is governed by a Board of Commissioners with the following responsibilities, as detailed in the Articles of Agreement: defining the job duties and compensation of PVWC staff, setting water rates, signing and executing all contracts, approving all money disbursements, and developing and enforcing Commission policies. Originally, in 1931, the Board was a four (4) member Board with one (1) Commissioner appointed from Clifton and Passaic respectively; and two (2) from Paterson. The Board of Commissioners was subsequently expanded to a seven (7) member Board with two (2) Commissioners appointed from Clifton and Passaic respectively, and three (3) from Paterson.