The Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission (PVSC), established in 1902 by an Act of New Jersey State Legislature, began operation of the Newark Bay Treatment Plant in 1924 as a means to alleviate pollution in the Passaic River and its tributaries. Major expansions, upgrades and renovations throughout the twentieth century have made the PVSC one of the largest wastewater treatment plants in the United States.

Since 1902, the PVSC has expanded its mission to enhance the viability, and environmental health and security of the 1.5 million residents in the 48 municipalities of Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Union and Passaic Counties of the Passaic Valley Service District. In accordance with federal and state water quality legislation, the Commissioners and staff of PVSC continuously work together to:

• Operate and maintain the PVSC infrastructure including the Newark Bay Treatment Plant and its 22-mile interceptor sewer line to enable the processing of over 300 Million gallons of wastewater every day.
  
  
• Administer and operate monitoring and compliance programs to identify organic and inorganic pollutants and prevent them from entering the waterways of the Passaic River and its tributaries.
  
  
• Improve the recreational and economic uses of Newark Bay, the Passaic River and its tributaries by removing debris and other pollutants from shorelines and waterways through in-house and community based River Restoration Programs.
  
  
• Provide environmental instruction and awareness programs to school systems district-wide.
  
  
• Leverage excess treatment capacity to provide low-cost liquid waste and sludge disposal options to municipalities, industries and businesses outside of the service area.

PVSC moves forward into a second century of service to its ratepayers with an aggressive plan to control costs and identify alternative funding sources for necessary infrastructure maintenance, automation, and upgrades, while providing innovative, environmentally sound and cost effective wastewater treatment.