Oradell Reservoir facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Oradell Reservoir |
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 Oradell Reservoir
Location in New Jersey
Oradell Reservoir
Location in the United States
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| Location | Bergen County, New Jersey |
| Coordinates | 40°57′22″N 74°01′44″W / 40.956129°N 74.029001°W |
| Lake type | reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Hackensack River, Pascack Brook, Dwars Kill |
| Primary outflows | Hackensack River |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface elevation | 20 ft (6.1 m) |
The Oradell Reservoir is a large reservoir (which is like a big, artificial lake) in Bergen County, New Jersey, USA. It was created by building a dam on the Hackensack River. This reservoir is super important because it helps provide clean drinking water to many homes in New Jersey.
Contents
Where is the Oradell Reservoir?
The Oradell Reservoir Dam is mostly located in the town of Oradell. However, the reservoir itself stretches into other nearby towns. These include Haworth, Emerson, Closter, and Harrington Park.
Rivers and Water Sources
The reservoir gets its water from several rivers and streams. The main river that flows into it is the Hackensack River. Other important water sources are the Pascack Brook and the Dwars Kill.
Other Reservoirs Nearby
There are three other reservoirs located upstream from the Oradell Reservoir. Upstream means they are higher up the river, so water flows from them towards Oradell. These reservoirs are:
- Woodcliff Lake Reservoir, also in Bergen County.
- Lake DeForest in Rockland County, New York.
- Lake Tappan, which is located across the border between Bergen County, New Jersey, and Rockland County, New York.
Train Bridge Crossing
A CSX Transportation train bridge crosses over the Oradell Reservoir. This bridge is used to carry goods, including crude oil, across the water.
History of the Oradell Reservoir
The construction of the Oradell Reservoir began a long time ago, in 1901. Workers started by digging out an old mill pond.
Building the Dam
- In 1911, the old mill pond dam was replaced. A new, stronger dam made of timber was built. This helped the reservoir hold more water.
- Later, in 1921, an even bigger concrete dam was constructed. This new dam was about 22 feet (6.7 meters) high. It was built to expand the reservoir's storage capacity even more.
- The entire reservoir project was finished in 1923.
Water Quality and Use
Today, the Oradell Reservoir and the streams that feed it have a special status. They are protected with "Category 1" water purity status in New Jersey. This means their water quality is very high and important to keep clean.
The reservoir is managed by United Water New Jersey, which is part of a company called Suez North America. This company helps make sure the water is safe. The Oradell Reservoir provides drinking water for about 750,000 people. These residents live in Bergen and Hudson counties in New Jersey.
