East Brunswick Approves $3M For Water Utility Improvements

EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ — The Township recently approved a $3 million bond ordinance to pay for various water utility improvements around town. The funds will go towards replacing the water main on Route 18 and installing new water meters.

The Route 18 water main is the primary source of water to the Township, including Spotswood and South River, which East Brunswick sells to. The State has offered to pay half of the cost of the water main replacement.

“If we don’t accept that bond for it then ultimately when those water lines need to be replaced, the full burden of that cost will be on the Township,” explained Mayor Brad Cohen.

Originally, the estimated cost was at $6 million, but the newest estimates based on the cost of material and labor have increased the evaluation to $12 million. East Brunswick is committed to providing $6 million for the project.

“Major repairs need to be done and we need to invest in it. The biggest cost drivers in that are water meters,” said Cohen. “Once we have better water meters in people’s homes, we can electronically detect leaks before you get a skyrocket high bill.”

There was also a question on increase in water rate by a member of the public.

The mayor explained that a water rate study for the Township was done in December 2019. Council was given the study and approved the water rate increase.

“The biggest factor leading to an increase in water rate was the cost of water. We get out water from Middlesex Water, a private company. If they give us a rate increase, we have no choice but to pass that rate increase on to the consumer,” said Cohen.

Only in the event of default does the Town helps bail out the water utility, but so far this has never happened, “and we hope that never happens,” said Cohen.

The mayor explained that the Township also has a “minimal water requirement” based on the previous 5 years. Whatever water was consumed during that time period has to be the benchmark for what the town purchases. “So, you have a minimal water purchase to make whether you use the water or not,” Cohen said.

While the amount, $3 million, might sound too big, the improvements are needed, said Councilman Kevin McEvoy who also sits on the Water Advisory Committee.

"This is something that is needed for the township. I sit in the Water Advisory Committee, and this was the conversation this past week. The people on the Commission got to hear all of the information they needed. And I just want to bring back to this table that the water advisory group was in total support of this move,” McEvoy said.

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