Help Replenish Our Drinking Water Reservoir!
Holmdel Township Committee
Help Replenish Our Drinking Water Reservoir
Monmouth County’s ongoing drought conditions and the growing demand on our water supply are a dangerous combination. Did you know that we can set up systems that help the Swimming River Reservoir, which provides drinking water to more than 300,000 residents, including Holmdel, replenish itself?
Groundwater Recharge, Activate!
Groundwater recharge is the process by which surface water, from rainfall and streams, moves through the ground to replenish aquifers. In much of southern Holmdel, septic systems actually play an important role in the recharge process, allowing wastewater to be naturally filtered through underground leach fields, and returning it to the groundwater system that helps replenish the Reservoir.
Azura Will Toss 45,000 Gallons of Water Every Day Into the Ocean and it Never Comes Back
On June 16, 2026, the Holmdel Planning Board approved Phase 2 of the Azura redevelopment at the old Vonage property at 23 Main Street. During the hearing, engineers confirmed that Azura will use approximately 45,000 gallons of water per day. This water will be sent through a $5.2 million sewer line that was never supposed to exist, which the township is building for the developer. This water, which could have been used to recharge our Reservoir, will instead be tossed into the ocean and it never comes back.
This approach is neither sustainable nor responsible.
A Modern Septic System at Azura Can Help!
Please sign our petition urging the Township Committee to require the Azura developer to install a modern, state-of-the-art treatment facility with underground leach fields located as far as practical from Willow Brook. Such a system would address environmental concerns while helping preserve and replenish one of Monmouth County's most important drinking water resources.
Thank you.
Kristin Celauro
Save Monmouth County Water
Sponsored by
To:
Holmdel Township Committee
From:
[Your Name]
We are writing to urge the Holmdel Township Committee to help replenish our drinking water source at the Swimming River Reservoir.
Rather than requiring the Azura redeveloper to replace its outdated wastewater treatment plant at its own expense, the Township agreed to construct a force main sewer line for the developer, fronting the entire $5.2 million cost using taxpayer money and creditworthiness. This force main will connect Azura to the Bell Works sewer system, which was never supposed to be tapped again.
Engineers for Azura recently confirmed that the development will use approximately 45,000 gallons of water per day. The sewer line will mindlessly pump that water to the ocean - outside the Swimming River Reservoir watershed – and it will never come back.
In other words, 45,000 gallons of water, per day, will no longer be available to replenish the Reservoir. This amount of water would sustain 150 typical families for a full year.
This approach is neither sustainable nor responsible.
A better solution would be to require the developer to install a modern, state-of-the-art wastewater treatment facility with underground leach fields located as far as practical from Willow Brook. Such a system would address environmental concerns while helping preserve and replenish one of Monmouth County's most important drinking water resources.
Thank you.