Maplewood Sewer Bills Are Up. Here's Why

MAPLEWOOD, NJ - Residents were experiencing sticker shock when they opened their sewer bills this month and took to social media to complain about the increase. But officials said there is a good reason for it.

According to officials, there is an additional charged of $37 on their most recent sewer bills.

Maplewood is one of twelve towns that sends its sewage to the Joint Meeting of Essex and Union Counties (JMEUC) for processing and last year the JMEUC was ordered by the Federal government to make improvements to its treatment facility to address environmental concerns.

Those mandatory improvements were divvied up amongst the municipalities and passed along to residents. Maplewood was assessed $775,000 as its portion of those Capital Improvements, officials said.

The decision was made to break this cost down over three years and charge a capital assessment of $37 and the charge will recur 2020 and 2021 before it comes off resident's sewer bills, officials said.

Those interested in the specifics of the required upgrades can either visit the website at www.jmeuc.com or call 908-353-1313.

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