$3 Million More Needed For Moorestown Water Plant Upgrades

MOORESTOWN, NJ — With two high profile wastewater treatment plant projects coming to a close, Moorestown Council introduced a pair of proposals to increase funding Monday night by a combined $3 million. Council approved a pair of proposed ordinances on introduction to provide additional funding for projects at the North Church Street and Hartford Road water treatment plants on Oct. 7.

Bond ordinances to fund both projects were approved in December 2018, with estimated costs provided by Alaimo Engineering. However, bids for both contracts came in much higher than anticipated, and the township wanted to wait until both projects were near completion before adding funding so that they understood the full costs involved.

The cost for the project at the North Church Street plant came in at $3 million more than expected. On Monday night, council approved a proposal that calls for the allocation of an additional $1,905,000 to be appropriated for upgrades at the North Church Street plant. The full amount would be borrowed in utility bonds or notes.

The cost for the project at the Hartford Road plant came in at $1.3 million more than expected. Council approved a proposal that calls for the allocation of an additional $1,100,000 to be appropriated for upgrades at the Hartford Road plant. The full amount would be borrowed in utility bonds or notes.

Both projects are aimed at eliminating contaminants that were found in Moorestown’s drinking water about six years ago.

Officials said the increase in the cost for the North Church Street is higher because a permanent filtration system had to be added to remove the unregulated contaminant Trichloropropane 123 (TCP 123), as well as Trichlorethylene (TCE) and Radium from the township's drinking water.

A 25 percent tariff on imported steel that went into effect in March 2018 has also played a factor in the increased costs, officials said.

Township Manager Thomas Neff said Alaimo and ERI, as well as the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) and Moorestown Councilman Mike Locatell have been keeping a close eye on the project and challenging the developers on change orders and cost increases.

Council also approved a proposal on introduction to appropriate $990,000, including the borrowing of $940,500 in bonds or notes for various studies and improvements to the wastewater treatment system.

The approval came after a representative from ERI made a presentation about the wastewater treatment plant’s vulnerability to flooding. By 2100,sea level is expected to rise 3.3 feet, but the plant is in an area where it would see minimal impacts, the representative said.

The plant is already outfitted with storm hardening material. The township should consider adding additional material and raising the tank walls by a foot, but this can be done as the plant is scheduled for its regular upgrades.

The life expectancy of the plant is between 50 and 100 years. Since the technology that was used when wastewater management plants first came into existence is the same, the township doesn’t need to consider building a new plant, he said. The best course of action is to maintain the existing structure and upgrade as needed. The township should consider ways to better regulate water flow at the plant, he said.

The public hearing and final votes on all three proposals will take place at the Oct. 21 meeting.