Moorestown Provides Water Update at Town Hall Meeting

Moorestown, NJ -- Residents packed town hall Wednesday night for what two council members referred to as “the best meeting we’ve had” on the water situation in the township.

“This was a positive meeting, there was a good exchange of ideas, and there’s a lot to consider,” Mayor Phil Garwood said.

“No one’s talked about buying water from different people than New Jersey American Water before,” Councilman Manny Delgado said. “We should have more discussions on that. I like the progression this discussion has taken.”

The discussion began in public in 2014, when residents began to express concern over levels of an unregulated contaminant that was reported in the township’s drinking water in its 2013 Water Quality Report.

The unregulated contaminant, Trichloropropane (TCP 1, 2, 3) is a completely man made element that has no official federal regulations.

In the wake of this concern and a recommendation from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), the township shut down two of its wells at the North Church Street water treatment plant, where the contaminant was detected.

Last summer, one of those wells (Well 7) was reopened and subjected to testing after samples taken in June showed there was no TCP 1,2,3 in the water. On Wednesday night, officials said NJDEP never recommended reopening the well, but township officials did let them know it was going to be reopened.

The other well (Well 9) was subject to testing for the next two years. The pilot testing for that well was completed in December, officials said Wednesday night.

Also on Wednesday night, the township announced a temporary solution to eliminate TCP 1,2,3 and Trichlorethylene (TCE) while a permanent fix is found.

That project calls for equipment to be put on site by a tractor trailer. Electrical piping would intercept the water either before it was treated or after and remove any traces of TCP 1,2,3 or TCE. The township can use the utility surplus to handle the cost, which can range from $70,000-$100,000 up front, and a $10,000-$15,000 a month rental fee.

Township Utilities Engineer L. Russell Trice, senior associate with the Alaimo Group, said it will take three weeks to prepare the specifications and get them advertised, another two weeks for council to award the bid, and another three months to get the equipment on site. It would be another 12-18 months after that to clear the water.

The township is still working on ways to eliminate Iron and Manganese from the water.

While council members and members of the public were in favor of this plan, there was still outcry from the public to shut Well 7 down again until the contaminants were eliminated.

Kati Angelini, of the recently formed Moorestown Water Group, asked that the well be shut down. She also said she had installed a filtration system in her house, and asked if the township would consider reimbursing her for the costs.

“That’s something we could consider,” Township Manager Scott Carew said.

Officials also said shutting Well 7 is something that could be considered as well.

When the well is closed, the township must buy more water from New Jersey American Water.

Carew expressed frustration over this on Wednesday night, as it is an added expense for the taxpayer, and he said the same contaminants are present in higher levels in their water.

On Friday, New Jersey American Water External Affairs Manager Richard G. Barnes provided the following statement:

“The water New Jersey American Water supplies to customers in Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, and Salem counties, including Moorestown, is non-detect for 1,2,3 TCP, and otherwise meets or surpasses all state and federal drinking water standards.”

That water also led to more water main breaks in Moorestown last year, as Trice previously explained that the water New Jersey American Water uses comes from the Delaware River, which is heavier than the water the township uses from its reserve underground.

There were over 50 breaks last year, when there are typically between 13 and 15, Carew said Wednesday night. The township has a plan in place to replace water mains, at a cost of $3,895,000 for replacements in 2016, and $4,975,000 for replacements in 2017-19.

Moorestown is also upgrading its water treatment plants at North Church Street, Hartford Road and Kings Highway.

The goal is to not rely on New Jersey American Water as of 2020.

One resident suggested partnering with other towns to buy water from them. The township currently has five emergency interconnects in place with Mount Laurel and Maple Shade, as well as New Jersey American Water.

“The solution may be a mesh of water sources,” she said. “I’ll help because I don’t want this water anywhere. I have a water treatment system in my house, but my kids still have to go to school and drink their water and they go to other people’s houses. I am only safe in my home and I’d love to have a community-wide solution.”

Resident Michael Babcock then suggested the possibility of lending some of Moorestown’s capacity to other towns, working together in a water exchange.

Carew said it was something that would be worth looking into.

Carew also said the township plans to introduce a new water conservation ordinance in March. Currently, the township calls for residents to water their lawn every other day in the spring and summer. NJDEP suggested replacing that ordinance with one that calls for watering to take place twice a week.

“If everyone waters for two days during peak months, that puts a strain on the system,” said Carew, who said NJDEP knows the township intends to introduce an ordinance of some kind. “This ordinance will have teeth and it won’t be just for show.”

To view the results of recent chemical testing that has been done in Moorestown, visit NJDEP’s Water Watch website.