Gillette, New Jersey: A Brief History and Plumbing Advancements

Gillette, New Jersey is a vibrant city located in north-central New Jersey in Union County. Known for its scenic landscapes, strong sense of community, and proximity to New York City, Gillette has a rich history—one that extends to its infrastructure and the evolution of plumbing and heating services throughout the past century.

## From Wells and Privies to PEX and Tankless: A Plumber’s History of Modern Plumbing in Gillette, New Jersey

Gillette, a village within Long Hill Township (Morris County), grew from farm and mill country along the Passaic River into a commuter suburb. That journey tracks closely with how clean water, wastewater treatment, and home heating evolved—from hand-dug wells and privies to today’s mixed public systems, code-driven installations, and high-efficiency gas appliances.

## Before “modern” plumbing: wells, cisterns, and privies (1800s–early 1900s)
– Most homes relied on shallow wells, springs, and rainwater cisterns for supply.
– Outhouses, cesspools, and early seepage pits handled sanitation; clay and brick drains served limited gray water.
– Flood-prone soils near the Passaic and Great Swamp edges shaped drainage and septic performance.

## Rail-suburb growth and indoor plumbing (early–mid 1900s)
– Rail access and small-lot development increased demand for reliable indoor plumbing.
– Neighborhood water associations and early private utilities began to supplement wells in denser pockets; outlying properties stayed on private wells.
– Galvanized steel and cast-iron piping dominated; traps and venting became more standardized under emerging plumbing codes.

## Public water build-out and pressure zones (mid-century)
– Public water mains extended along key corridors first, improving flow, fire protection, and water quality.
– Today, many Gillette addresses are on public water (commonly served in this region by New Jersey American Water), while others remain on private wells—especially on larger lots.
– Elevated storage and pressure-reduction districts helped stabilize pressure in hillier sections; copper gradually replaced galvanized lines in homes.

## Sewer expansion and environmental reforms (postwar–1980s)
– Postwar housing spurts drove installation of sanitary sewers in select districts; other neighborhoods remained on septic due to soil, topography, and cost.
– Long Hill Township manages sewered areas through local districts and regional partnerships, while many homes in Gillette still operate well-performing septic systems.
– Federal and state laws—especially post-1972—tightened standards, pushing conversions from cesspools to engineered septic or sewer connections in denser areas.

## Codes, conservation, and modern materials (1970s–2000s)
– New Jersey’s Uniform Construction Code era standardized permits, inspections, and licensed-plumber work.
– Materials shifted from copper-only to CPVC and then PEX for faster installs and freeze resilience; PVC/ABS became standard for DWV.
– Low-flow fixtures, backflow prevention, sump systems, and cross-connection control became routine—important in flood-influenced neighborhoods near the Passaic/Great Swamp watershed.
– Statewide lead service line replacement is now underway; utilities and towns are mapping and scheduling replacements over the next several years.

## Today in Gillette: mixed service, steady upgrades
– Water: A patchwork—many homes on public water, many still on private wells; pressure-reducing valves and thermal expansion control are common code items on public supply.
– Wastewater: A mix of sewered streets and well-maintained septic systems; permits and soil testing govern any conversions.
– Plumbing retrofits often include replacing old galvanized, adding whole-home shutoffs, leak detection, and bringing fixtures to current efficiency standards.

## Heat in Gillette: from oil to gas—why conversions are booming
– Historically, oil heat dominated: basement or UST tanks feeding boilers and furnaces, with separate atmospheric water heaters.
– As regional utilities extend gas mains (commonly Elizabethtown Gas in this area), homeowners are moving to cleaner, lower-maintenance systems.
– Benefits of oil-to-gas:
– Efficiency: Condensing boilers/furnaces and tankless water heaters reach high 90% AFUE/UEF.
– Space and risk: Removing oil tanks frees space and mitigates leak concerns.
– Comfort and control: Modulating burners, sealed combustion, smart thermostats, and endless hot water with tankless.

## A practical conversion roadmap (Mr. Tankless specialty)
1) Utility readiness
– Confirm gas main availability and request a service line/meter set; coordinate if your street is slated for expansion.
2) Permits and code
– Apply through Long Hill Township’s Construction Office; expect gas piping pressure tests, venting checks, and final inspection before meter turn-on.
3) Load and equipment
– Perform Manual J (or equivalent) sizing; choose sealed-combustion, direct-vent condensing equipment.
– Pair a condensing boiler with an indirect tank or go fully tankless for DHW to maximize efficiency and space.
4) Venting and combustion air
– Sidewall vent in listed materials (PVC/CPVC/PP) per manufacturer and code; line or abandon masonry chimneys as required.
5) Oil tank decommissioning
– Follow NJDEP-compliant procedures; document any UST closure and soil testing for resale value and peace of mind.
6) Plumbing tune-up
– Replace aging supply lines, add PRVs and expansion tanks on public water, verify gas sizing for future loads (range, dryer, grill, standby generator).

## Research pointers for a deeper local history
– Long Hill Township engineering and construction records: water/sewer main maps, installation phases.
– New Jersey American Water service maps and annual water quality reports: pressure districts and capital projects.
– County archives and Sanborn fire insurance maps: early footprints of mains and sewered streets.
– Watershed groups and flood-mitigation plans: how Passaic/Great Swamp hydrology shaped sump, storm, and sewer policy.
– Utility dockets and public notices: gas main expansion schedules and street-moratorium calendars.

## Closing
From hand-dug wells and privies to copper, PEX, and condensing gas appliances, Gillette’s plumbing history mirrors the region’s shift from decentralized systems to code-driven, utility-supported infrastructure. With new gas mains arriving, oil-to-gas conversions—and high-efficiency tankless hot water—offer Gillette homeowners cleaner heat, lower bills, and modern comfort. That’s squarely in the Mr. Tankless wheelhouse: right-sizing, venting, permitting, and delivering reliable on-demand hot water the community can count on.