Bergen Flooding: County Executive Demands Answers From Water Company

ORADELL, NJ — Officials in Bergen County are demanding answers from Suez Water about why the Hackensack River continues to flood during major storms.

Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco, several county commissioners, and leaders from Oradell, New Milford, and River Edge gathered Monday for a press conference at Buskirk Island County Park in Oradell.

Last week, heavy rains made roads impassable and damaged dozens of homes, businesses, and other buildings in Oradell, New Milford, and River Edge, as NorthJersey.com reported. Dozens of New Jersey Transit buses were underwater as well, Tedesco said. Last year, 200 buses had water damage after another rain storm, according to NorthJersey.com.

Tedesco asked why no local officials were notified the river might crest above flood stage.

“What were the water levels of all four reservoirs in the Hackensack water shed system during the week of April 4, and the day of the rain on April 7?” said Tedesco.

“Were the flood gates or spillways opened? If so, what times were those decisions made and were any notifications made?

"What were the plans Veolia/Suez was making? What information was known and provided for by Suez to anyone? Did they provide information to first responders?"

Tedesco and others said county officials didn't get enough warning, and couldn't respond quickly enough to the flooding.

"No one can control the rain that falls from the sky, but what we can control are the actions by those that provide water to its customers," Tedesco said. "They have the ability to take action and to provide information that the other rivers and the other areas don't have."

Tedesco asked for a meeting with the Suez CEO "immediately" and for an explanation why the flooding got so bad.

"This is the second time in seven months I'm standing here," he said.

Tedesco said he has a strategy to address flooding at the Saddle River, too, but focused on the Hackensack River Watershed.

Suez Water will become Veolia after a merger in May, as NorthJersey.com reported.

"We can't keep letting this happen," Tedesco said. "Hopefully, Veolia/Suez will realize that they have a responsibility to Bergen, Rockland, and Hudson counties."

Leaders from River Edge, Oradell, and New Milford echoed Tedesco's statements.