After many years of neglect, interest of the public in urban waterways has seen a dramatic rise.  The Passaic Valley Sewerage Commissioners was created in 1902 to abate pollution in the Passaic River which by then had gotten so severe that it create a serious health risk to the public at large.  The Passaic River/Newark Bay Restoration Program was established in 1998 to develop a public/private partnership whose aim was to make the local waters suitable for recreational purposes.

PVSC has developed a three pronged approach to the restoration of the local waterways in its 48 municipality district which has resulted in the removal of over 2650 tons of debris to date.

1. Skimming Program-- Two pontoon boats, one 50 ft., the other 30 ft. skim floating debris from the Passaic River.  This material, which runs the gamut from plastic cups to tree trunks, is found in abundance after heavy rains or at high tide.  The two skimmers will work in tandem.  The larger boat plies the channels while the smaller vessel can operate closer to the riverbank and in the shallows further upstream.
2. Volunteer Sponsorship-- PVSC provides assistance in site selection, any and all cleanup supplies, tools, dumpsters, and disposal fees to any volunteer group willing to carry out a shoreline cleanup in our district.  Since 1998, PVSC has sponsored over 250 volunteer cleanups with municipalities, school groups, businesses, and individuals.
3. PVSC Cleanup Crew-- PVSC has formed a Restoration Department to conduct the kinds of cleanups which can't be done by hand and involve the use of heavy equipment to remove such things as fallen trees and other large objects.  This is done by invitation from interested citizens and local officials in each municipality.  These cleanups can be conducted on any waterway which is a tributary of the Passaic River on Newark Bay.