From the Southeast Morris County Utilities Authority:
SMCMUA REMINDS CONSUMERS THAT HIGH-QUALITY WATER
IS “THERE WHEN YOU NEED IT”
(Cedar Knolls, NJ) As Drinking Water Week continues, The Southeast Morris County Municipal Utilities Authority (SMCMUA) and other water purveyors throughout North America are reminding water consumers that high-quality tap is “There When You Need It.”
Drinking Water Week is May 2-8 this year.
The coronavirus pandemic has shone a light on the importance of drinking water for health, hydration and hygiene needs. In the early stages of the pandemic, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued separate statements assuring consumers that drinking water was safe to use as normal.
Many communities are fortunate to have reliable access to safe water when they turn on the tap. In large part, this stems from the regular testing water utilities are required to undertake to ensure regulatory standards for water quality are met.
In fact, every water system must publish a Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) detailing its water quality. SMCMUA’s Annual Water Quality Report will be published soon. Account holders will be notified in their bills, and account holders and persons registered for water alerts under Smart911 will be notified via email. The report also will be available at www.smcmua.org under the water quality tab.
“Shortly after the coronavirus was declared a pandemic, EPA and CDC reminded us that we should trust our tap water as we normally would for hygiene and hydration purposes,” said American Water Works Association CEO David LaFrance.
“This proves to be extremely vital because handwashing is an important way to stop the spread of the virus. We couldn’t do that without our high-quality drinking water.”
SMCMUA recognizes all of our employees for their efforts to provide a reliable and safe supply of drinking water. SMCMUA also recognizes the importance of community support when making infrastructure improvements such as main, valve, hydrant and meter replacements.
“We acknowledge that these improvements are often disruptive to our community, and we appreciate the patience and understanding of those affected, so that SMCMUA can ensure a more resilient water system for years to come,” said Laura Cummings, PE, executive director of SMCMUA.
SMCMUA is investing an average of $8.8 million dollars annually in infrastructure renewal and related projects, and maintains some of the lowest water rates in New Jersey.
To commemorate the week, water utilities, water organizations, government entities, environmental advocates, schools and other stakeholders throughout North America and beyond will encourage consumers to understand and appreciate their water.
About Drinking Water Week
For more than 40 years, AWWA and its members have celebrated Drinking Water Week, a unique opportunity for both water professionals and the communities they serve to join together in recognizing the vital role water plays in daily lives.
Free materials for download and additional information about Drinking Water Week are available on the Drinking Water Week webpage.
Update Your SMCMUA Account Contact Information. SMCMUA requests that account holders maintain current contact information to aid in communications for billing, service and for emergency purposes. Contact SMCMUA’s Customer Service Division to confirm your account information is accurate or go to SMCMUA’s webpage and choose “Update Account Information” on their home page.
Register for Smart911TM. Go to SMCMUA’s website and choose “Register for Water Alerts” on their home page or go to Morris County’s website at https://oem.morriscountynj.gov/alerts and choose Morris County AlertMorris Smart911TM Notification System.
If you do not have access to a computer please ask a relative, friend or neighbor to register for you.
SMCMUA was established in December 1976. SMCMUA provides drinking water to approximately 62,000 consumers in Morris County. The SMCMUA-creating municipalities are the Town of Morristown, the Township of Morris, the Township of Hanover and the Borough of Morris Plains.
