Almost nine percent of this small borough is water. Pompton Lakes sits in a valley where the Ramapo, Pequannock and Wanaque rivers come together, and that water once powered the mills and factories that built the town. The Ramapo arrives from Oakland through Potash Lake into Pompton Lake, then leaves along the border with Wayne; just south of the borough it joins the Pequannock to form the Pompton River. Flooding has been a recurring part of life here, most recently on a large scale in 2011.
The Restoration Job connects callers with independent restoration providers and charges nothing for it. Call (888) 317-9980 any time of day and we'll link you with a provider that works in Pompton Lakes, whether the problem is river water, a burst pipe or a tree through the roof.
How the call works: when you call (888) 317-9980, The Restoration Job connects you with an independent restoration provider that serves Pompton Lakes. That provider inspects the damage, explains the scope and quotes the work. The Restoration Job doesn't perform restoration itself. Read our referral disclosure.
A Valley Where Three Rivers Meet
The rivers that converge here drain a large piece of the New Jersey Highlands and the Ramapo Mountains along the New York line. In a long, soaking storm, runoff from all of those slopes heads for the same low ground at once. During Irene in August 2011, roughly nine inches of rain fell in less than a day across the area, the Pompton River just downstream reached a record 25.24-foot crest, and floodgates on the Ramapo were opened in an effort to manage the rising water.
Afterward, federal mitigation funds paid for buyouts of a group of repeatedly flooded homes in the borough, as in neighboring Wayne, Lincoln Park and Pequannock. Plenty of houses near the lake and riverbanks remain, and their owners know the drill: watch the forecasts, move valuables up, and be ready to leave.
Watching the Ramapo Before a Big Storm
The USGS has kept daily records of the Ramapo River at Pompton Lakes since 1921, and the live gauge is one of the most useful tools a resident has. River levels tend to keep climbing after local rain stops because water is still draining off the hills upstream. Pair the gauge with National Weather Service flood watches and warnings, which can give useful lead time ahead of a large tropical system.
- Move documents, electronics and keepsakes out of the basement when a watch is issued.
- Know how to shut off gas, electricity and water, and do it before water reaches appliances.
- Clear storm drains and gutters near your home ahead of the rain.
- Plan a route to higher ground that avoids streets near the river.
Storm Damage Beyond the Floodplain
Not every call in Pompton Lakes involves the river. Homes away from the water deal more often with wind-driven rain, fallen limbs, and gutters that overflow against foundations. Nor'easters and summer thunderstorms bring down trees onto roofs, and the resulting openings let rain into attics and ceilings until they are covered. Storm damage cleanup usually starts with tarping or boarding the opening, removing wet insulation and ceiling materials, and drying the framing before repairs. Winter adds ice dams and frozen pipes in unheated spaces.
What Flood Cleanup Looks Like Near the Lake and Rivers
Floodwater from the rivers carries silt, debris and sewage from overwhelmed systems upstream, so it is handled as contaminated. Once power is off and the water has receded, a restoration crew pumps out what remains, shovels out mud and removes saturated carpet, furniture, insulation and drywall. Walls are typically opened well above the visible water line because drywall wicks moisture upward. Then framing and masonry are cleaned, disinfected and dried with dehumidifiers and air movers, with moisture readings taken daily until materials reach normal levels. Read more about flood cleanup before you talk with a provider so you know what to ask.
Flood damage from rising water is generally excluded from homeowners policies and covered only by separate flood insurance, so call that carrier as well if you have a policy.
Damp Valley Air and Mold Risk
A town built around a lake and three rivers has humid air and high groundwater for much of the year, and Passaic County's wettest month is typically September. Basements that have taken water before are where mold shows up first, on drywall paper, wood paneling and stored cardboard. Run a dehumidifier during the warm months, keep stored items on shelves rather than the floor, and dry any leak within a day or two. When growth covers a wide area or keeps returning, mold remediation should be paired with finding the moisture that feeds it.
Areas In and Around Pompton Lakes
The same line also serves nearby communities such as:
- Wayne
- Wanaque
- Bloomingdale
- Oakland
- Riverdale
- Pequannock Township
Common Questions
Why does Pompton Lakes flood so often?
The borough sits in a valley where the Ramapo, Pequannock and Wanaque rivers converge, collecting runoff from a large hilly area to the north and west. When a slow-moving storm drops several inches of rain across those watersheds, the water arrives in the valley faster than it can drain downstream through the Pompton River, and low areas near the lake and riverbanks flood.
How do I know if my Pompton Lakes home is in a flood zone?
Search your address on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center to see the mapped flood zone and base flood elevation. If you are in a high-risk zone with a federally backed mortgage, flood insurance is required. Even outside those zones, many homes in this valley have taken water, so a policy is worth pricing; new policies usually have a 30-day waiting period.
Can I clean up a flooded basement myself?
Small amounts of clean water from a pipe or appliance can sometimes be handled with a wet vac, fans and a dehumidifier if you act quickly. River floodwater is different: it is contaminated, often deep, and soaks into walls and framing. Protective gear, removal of porous materials and moisture monitoring are needed, which is why most owners bring in a restoration provider after a river flood.