BRIDGEWATER, NJ — Bridgewater Township took a look at its aging sewer system, outlining major utility projects, rising treatment costs and a planned 2027 budget request aimed at reducing stormwater entering the sanitary sewer system.
Thomas Genova, director of municipal services and the sewer utility, told the council at the Aug. 20 meeting that the township sewer system is roughly 65 years old.
He said the system collects wastewater from residential, commercial and industrial properties and conveys it through about 350 miles of collection lines and 50 miles of trunk sewer to the Somerset Raritan Valley Sewage Authority treatment facility.
The sewer maintenance division has six employees who operate pump stations, inspect and clean pipelines, and make minor repairs. Genova said those employees are on call 24 hours to respond to emergency sewer backups.
Among the current and upcoming projects is the Middlebrook pumping station, which Genova said underwent a major phase 1 upgrade in 2023.
He said the $4.1 million phase 2 improvement project will start this year and continue through 2026 and 2027, with financing through the New Jersey Water Bank Program.
"The contract calls for a completion date of June 30, 2027," Genova said.
The Gilbride Road pumping station will be evaluated for capacity, safety, regulatory compliance and operational reliability.
The $40,500 professional services contract to Colliers Engineering & Design for that evaluation was approved by the council that same night.
He said the township plans to apply to the New Jersey Water Bank for funding in 2026 and "will construct the same by 2028."
Another major project involves the Headgates Dam area on the Raritan River.
Genova said the township's 54-inch North Branch trunk sewer would be unstable if the dam were removed, leading to a plan to replace the existing gravity sewer with a dual inverted siphon across the river.
"The trenchless construction project is planned to begin later this year and completed in the summer of 2027," he said. "All design, permitting, reviews, and construction will be performed at no cost to the township."
Genova said inflow and infiltration, known as INI, remains a major financial issue because stormwater and groundwater enter sanitary sewers through direct connections or defects.
He said about 50 percent of the sewer utility operating budget goes to pay Somerset Raritan Valley Sewage Authority for wastewater treatment. This puts the 2026 annual sewer treatment cost at more than $6 million.
During public comment, Somerset Raritan Valley Sewage Authority Commissioner Dr. Joseph Lifrieri referenced INI, saying, "I think this is the biggest waste of money any municipality or governmental body can pass up on."
"INI is nothing but leakage of water into the system... either through cracks in the system or off illegal connections to the sanitary sewer. And a lot of water that comes down a roof goes into a sewer. A lot of people collect their water and send it into their own sewer and their illegal connections and we're paying through the nose to take care and treat that kind of water. And that water is clean water."
Lifrieri said that if the Township "can determine where the illegal connections are and fix them, you can save a boatload of money."
Genova said the 2027 budget request will include funding for a phased INI project focused in part on defective manholes and access to overgrown sewer easements.
Additionally, Genova said the Township has used the code enforcement division to do inspections to catch when a sump pump is illegally attached.
"We've had people that put their roof leaders into the sanitary system," said Genova. "Every town has this problem, and when you have an extreme rain event, it really causes havoc."
Lifrieri noted the SRVSA is rated for 24 million gallons a day.
"When it rains, we peak out over 80 million gallons of water going through the plant. That's clean. That's three-quarters. Well, that's three times more clean water coming into the plant than sewage water coming into the plant," said Lifrieri.
Council President Joan Geiger questioned what the advantage is for a resident to hook up a sump pump to the township's sewer system instead of letting it flow into the ground.
"Because people don't want water ponding on their own property," said Councilman Michael Kirsh.
"Or you know, affecting their foundations, the leaders come down, they don't bring them out far enough, the water will pond up around their foundation wall and leak into their basement," said Lifrieri.
See the full presentation by visiting bridgewaternj.gov.
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