Super Hired To Oversee Hoboken’s $33M Water Main Project

HOBOKEN, NJ — Hoboken has officially hired the superintendent who will oversee one of the largest water infrastructure projects in the city’s recent history.

On Tuesday, Mayor Ravi Bhalla announced that the City of Hoboken has hired Robert Smith as the new superintendent of Hoboken’s water system.

The new position became necessary in Hoboken after the approval of a new contract with Suez Water that provides Hoboken with over $33 million in water main upgrades over the next 15 years.

Earlier this year, Bhalla and the City of Hoboken formalized a new contract with Suez Water that provides for more than six times more investments in Hoboken’s water main system as compared to the old contract. Hoboken now controls all of the revenue from the water utility bills which are now invested back into water main upgrades by the city, as opposed to a private water utility.

Hoboken plans to replace about 18 percent of the water main system by 2034, Bhalla’s office stated.

• See related article: Hoboken, Suez Water Reach Deal With $33M In 'Critical Upgrades'
• See related article: Hoboken Council Unanimously Approves Suez Water Contract

Smith’s salary will be fully funded through the water utility, at no taxpayer expense. He will be the only full-time employee of the water utility, Bhalla stated.

Smith comes to Hoboken with over 27 years of managerial experience in the water and wastewater field, most recently serving as the Director of Water and Sewer Utilities for the Borough of Sayreville.

“I am proud and honored to be named the new water superintendent here in the City of Hoboken,” Smith said. “I am looking forward to serving the citizens of Hoboken to the best of my abilities, ensuring that they receive the highest quality of water and service possible.”

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