New Jersey American Water (NJAW) officially broke ground Oct. 28 on an operations center in Washington in Warren County, marking a significant investment in infrastructure, service reliability and resiliency for customers and communities in Warren and Morris counties.
The 22,517-square-foot facility, designed by McKernan Architects & Associates, will house local employees and provide room for future growth. Construction is scheduled to begin in Nov. 2025, with completion expected by Dec. 2026, weather permitting. Work will primarily take place on weekdays during daytime hours. The project is estimated to cost about $20 million.
The event was attended by Assemblyman Erik Peterson (D-23); Louann Cox, mayor of Washington Borough; George Willan, deputy mayor of Washington Township (Warren County); and Carolyn Gallagher, aide to New Jersey Board of Public Utilities Commissioner Michael Bange.
The new operations center is “a reflection of our promise to continue to provide our customers with high-quality service, today and into the future,” said Mark McDonough, president of New Jersey American Water. “We’re proud to grow in a community where our employees have lived, worked, volunteered, and donated for more than a decade to make Washington stronger.”
Beyond infrastructure, NJAW has built deep roots in Washington through sustained community support. For more than 10 years, employees have volunteered to clear trails twice annually in Warren County parks, helping ensure safe and accessible outdoor spaces for residents.
The company has also supported local events through the Washington Business Improvement District, contributing both time and funding to help these traditions thrive. NJAW has also provided grants to local volunteer fire departments and donated a retiring field service van to support their operations.
“We’re grateful that New Jersey American Water continues to call Washington Borough home,” said Cox. “They’ve been a steady, trusted partner to this community for decades, and their decision to grow and invest right here speaks volumes about their dedication to the people of Washington.”
Washington has been served by New Jersey American Water since 1987. Once complete, the new center will contribute about $95,000 annually in property taxes to the borough and continue to provide high-quality water service to more than 31,000 customers across the region.
