Does New Jersey get drinking water from the Delaware River?

New Jersey American Water, the state's largest publicly traded water utility, provides water to an additional 17 communities in the counties. All receive a mix of water from the plant, which draws from the Delaware River, as well as groundwater from wells throughout the area.



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Supports the water needs of two of the nation's largest cities: Philadelphia and New York City, as well as ~one million people in northern New Jersey. Consumptive Use: Over 850 million gallons a day; this is water withdrawn from the Basin but not returned.

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More than 17 million people get their drinking water from the Delaware River basin, including two of the five largest cities in the U.S.—New York City and Philadelphia.

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LIFEBLOOD OF THE NORTHEAST More than 17 million people get their drinking water from the Delaware River basin, including two of the five largest cities in the U.S.—New York City and Philadelphia.

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However, the most famous fact about the Delaware River is the famous crossing of it by George Washington in 1776 which helped him successfully surprise Hessian troops in New Jersey during the American Revolution.

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For its size, the Upper Delaware River contains some of the highest water quality in the eastern United States. The upper portion of the watershed remains largely forested. These forests act as a natural buffer against pollution and erosion by filtering water, which is very important for maintaining water quality.

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Industrial growth and raw sewage in the region in the 20th century killed aquatic life in much of the Delaware River and surrounding streams. Joe Newton would fish on the Delaware River every day if he could.

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