A 1.5-Million-Gallon Water Tower Rises on Van Dyke Avenue

NEW BRUSWICK, NJ (January 19, 2026) - A new landmark is rising on Van Dyke Avenue as construction continues on a 1.5-million-gallon elevated water tank. The project replaces the water tower that stood as a familiar feature from 1949 until its demolition last April.

The $8.8 million upgrade includes the removal of the previous structure and the construction of a new ellipsoid tank with a design similar to the water tank on Ryders Lane in Millitown, viewable from the New Jersey Turnpike.

Once finished, the tower will feature the "New Brunswick, Heart of New Jersey" logo. The new water tower is expected to be fully operational by the end of this year.

The tower replacement serves as a key component of a comprehensive water system upgrade underway across New Brunswick. This work is being executed as part of the City's capital master plan. Related infrastructure improvements have already been completed on water mains around Van Dyke Avenue to be connected to the new, larger tank.

Beyond the tower construction, the City is also engaged in its most significant upgrade, to date, at the water treatment plant. That project will double the plant's treatment capacity to 24 million gallons per day by installing new membrane filters and retiring the existing treatment processes in favor of newer technology.