N.J. Stat. § 40A:31-20
A private water company or industry which shall have entered into a contract with a local unit or local units pursuant to this act, shall pay at such time as may be provided in the contract, the sum of money certified to it on or before the date provided for payment in the contract. Any sum of money so certified by the local unit or units shall be a lien in favor of the local unit or units on and against the property of the private water company or industry. If the sum of money or any part thereof is not paid on or before the contract payment date, the unpaid amount shall bear interest at the rate to be determined in accordance with the provisions of N.J.S. 40A:31-17, until payment is complete and, the local unit or local units shall make and record, in the same manner as conveyances of interest in real property are recorded, a certificate setting forth the facts and giving notice of the existence and amount of the lien remaining unsatisfied. The lien shall have priority over all other liens theretofore or thereafter attaching, except those for federal, State and local taxes.
N.J.S. § 40A:31-20