The Merchantville-Pennsauken Water Commission (MPWC) pumps groundwater from fifteen (15) wells that tap the Potomac-Raritan-Magothy Aquifer and transports it to the MPWC’s five (5) treatment facilities. The quantity
of water that we are able to pump in any given minute, day, month or year is strictly governed by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. In total, MPWC has six (6) above ground water tanks, with the newest located in Cherry Hill. The total capacity of the above ground storage tanks is eight (8) million gallons of water. This type of water storage not only enhances water pressure - needed to take showers, sprinkle lawns and fight fires - but it also provides over a full days worth of water supply to our entire franchise area in case of an emergency situation. In 1993, the NJDEP permanently reduced our permitted annual pumping capacity. Consequently, we must augment our well water supply from other sources. Currently that source is New Jersey American Water Company. At the present time, a very small amount of water is purchased annually, which represents approximately 1% of our needs. NJWAC supplies water from three (3) sources: surface water from the Delaware River and groundwater from PRM and Mt. Laurel-Wenonah Aquifers.