In 1947, the Bergen County Sewer Authority was established by the Board of Chosen Freeholders of Bergen County under an Act of the New Jersey legislature. The authority was delegated the responsibility for the construction, administration, operation and maintenance of trunk sewers, intercepting sewers, and sewage treatment facilities to eliminate pollution of the Hackensack River and its tributaries.

The Bergen County Utilities Authority is the successor agency to the Bergen County Sewer Authority. The authority is organized under the laws of the State of New Jersey (Chapter 123 of the Laws of 1946 as amended and supplemented by NJSA 40:14B-1)