Within Bergen County there are 22 public community water systems serving the same people year-round (e.g., in homes or businesses). Additionally, there are 17 non-transient non-community water systems serving the same people, but not year-round (e.g., schools with their own water system) and, 38 transient non-community water systems that do not consistently serve the same people (e.g. rest stops, campgrounds, gas stations).

Surface water provides habitats for aquatic life, food (e.g., fish and shellfish), recreation opportunities (e.g., boating and swimming), resources for industrial uses, and drinking water within Bergen County. The quality of our surface water in rivers, lakes, wetlands and estuaries often depends on activities that take place within the watersheds.

Watersheds are those land areas that catch rain or snow and drain to specific marches, streams, lakes or to ground water. Bergen County is served by the Ramapo River Watershed, the Saddle River Watershed, the Pascack Creek Watershed, the Hackensack River Watershed, the Lower Passaic River Watershed, and the Lower Hudson River Watershed. These areas are designated as Principal Watersheds of New Jersey by the NJDEP. These watersheds fall within three Watershed Management Areas (WMAs). The three WMAs within Bergen County are, WMA-3, WMA-4, and WMA-5.

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