Newark Water Department – Newark, NJ

Essential Utility Services

The Newark Water Department, officially known as the Department of Water and Sewer Utilities, is responsible for the delivery of high-quality drinking water and the management of wastewater services for the City of Newark. Headquartered in the basement level of City Hall at 920 Broad Street, this department oversees a vast infrastructure network that includes the Pequannock and Wanaque river systems. As a Municipal Agency, it is dedicated to protecting public health by ensuring that water meets all state and federal safety standards. The department has gained national recognition for its aggressive Lead Service Line Replacement Program, a massive infrastructure project aimed at modernizing the city’s water delivery system and eliminating lead exposure risks for residents.

Operations and Customer Care

The department manages the billing and maintenance for thousands of residential and commercial accounts. Residents can visit the office for billing inquiries, payment processing, and service requests.

• Billing and Payments: Issues quarterly water and sewer bills. Payments can be made online, by phone, or in person at City Hall.
• Emergency Services: Responds to water main breaks, sewer backups, and street flooding 24/7.
• Water Quality: Conducts regular testing and publishes an annual Consumer Confidence Report detailing water composition.
• Infrastructure Upgrades: Manages ongoing projects to replace aging pipes, upgrade meters, and improve storm drainage.

Accessing the Department

The Customer Service center is located in City Hall. Visitors should enter through the main Broad Street entrance and proceed through security screening. While the administrative office is listed as Room B31F, bill payments are typically handled at the cashier windows in Room 117 or via drop boxes located at the entrances. The Broad Street drop box is accessible during business hours, while the Green Street drop box is available after hours. Public transportation is highly convenient, with multiple NJ Transit bus lines stopping directly in front of the building. Please note that for in-person payments, the office strictly accepts cash, money orders, or cashier’s checks; credit cards and personal checks are generally not accepted at the counter but can be used for online payments.