Additional Funding Approved For Moorestown Water Projects

MOORESTOWN, NJ — Moorestown Council gave final approval to a pair of proposals to re-bond the contingency on a pair of water treatment plant upgrades Monday night. It was previously reported that the proposals would increase costs for the projects at the North Church Street and Hartford Road water treatment plants by about $3 million.

On Monday night, Councilman Mike Locatell clarified that these ordinances wouldn’t increase costs for the project, and that any change orders approved in connection with those projects have been minimal to this point.

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 funding for both projects is lower than the difference because of the contingencies 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 and a tight timeline for the projects by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) have also played roles in the increased costs, officials said.

Council also gave final approval to a proposal that appropriates $990,000, including the borrowing of $940,500 in bonds or notes for various studies and improvements to the wastewater treatment system.

At the Oct. 7 meeting, a representative from ERI made a presentation about the wastewater treatment plant's vulnerability to flooding. By 2100, sea level is expected to rise by 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.

All three proposals were unanimously approved by 5-0 votes.