Manville Sewer System Sold For $6.5 Million To NJ American Water

MANVILLE, NJ — New Jersey American Water has signed an agreement to buy Manville's municipally-owned wastewater collection system for $6.5 million, the water company announced recently.

The agreement for the system, which serves around 4,300 customers, follows a voter referendum that took place in November 2023, which passed with 83 percent of the voters approving the sale of the system to New Jersey American Water.

"Selling the wastewater system to New Jersey American Water was the right decision for our community," said Manville Mayor Richard Onderko. "The sale will allow us to pay off municipal debt, stabilize property taxes, and secure long-term, affordable rates for our residents. Most importantly, New Jersey American Water has the resources needed to invest in critical infrastructure improvements that will benefit Manville for years to come."

As part of the agreement and with the approval from the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJ BPU), New Jersey American Water will invest a minimum of $10 million in sewer system improvements in the 10 years after acquisition.

"Having served Manville for many years as its water provider, we are honored and proud to now extend our wastewater services to residents," said Mark McDonough, president of New Jersey American Water. "We are committed to making the necessary improvements to Manville’s wastewater system and look forward to continuing to support our customers with the same level of excellence we have provided to them for the past two decades."

Residents will receive additional information in the mail from New Jersey American Water within the next week, and information is also available on a dedicated webpage, Manville Wastewater, on the company’s website at www.newjerseyamwater.com, under Customer Service and Billing.

This is New Jersey American Water’s seventh acquisition in the last five years. The company completed the acquisition of Somerville's 3,800 customer wastewater system in February 2023, as well as Bound Brook's wastewater system with 2,800 customers in 2022, the Long Hill Township wastewater system with 2,900 customers in 2020, and the Mount Ephraim wastewater system with 1,800 customers in 2019.

Additionally, New Jersey American Water completed the acquisition of Egg Harbor City’s water and wastewater system in June 2023 via the state’s Water Infrastructure Protection Act, adding more than 1,500 water and wastewater customers.