 | Vol. 4 No. 3 Winter 1996 |
| A Newsletter About New Jersey's Water Quality Programs |
The New Jersey Treatment Trust finances approximately one-half of the loan amounts at market rate and the DEP issues its loans at a zero percent interest rate. “This combination of funding provides loans for 100 percent of the allowable project costs at approximately half the market interest rate, resulting in annual savings of 30 percent when compared to the cost of each participant obtaining its own financing,” said Ellis Veiser, Chairman of the New Jersey Wastewater Treatment Trust.
The 21 projects were listed on DEP’s Priority List which included 12 projects proceeding under the fast-track process. Fast-track loan recipients submitted planning and design information in February 1996 and a financing application in March. "The fast-track program expedites the review process for applicants who meet the DEP’s criteria, but have been proceeding independently toward construction. This allows more wastewater improvement projects to receive funding in a shorter time than before," said DEP Commissioner Robert C. Shinn, Jr.
In addition, seven recipients took advantage of the program’s pre-award provision. With prior DEP approval, this provision allows applicants to proceed with construction prior to a loan award, while retaining eligibility on incurred costs. The provision also allows loan recipients to proceed on their own schedule and determine the exact cost of funding a project, rather than borrow based on a pre-bid estimate.
According to a recent survey by the Council of Infrastructure Financing Authorities, the New Jersey Wastewater Treatment Financing Program ranks among the best in the country, with only New York and Texas being ranked higher in the amount of money loaned to wastewater projects.
"By assisting in the construction of quality infrastructure, the state not only protects our environment, but strengthens New Jersey’s economy as well. Efficient facilities benefit the public and business sectors by cleaning up the environment and encouraging additional private investments," said Governor Christine Todd Whitman while signing the bills to appropriate these funds.
Following are brief descriptions of the projects financed, along with their loan amounts:
| PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS |
|---|
| Camden County M.U.A. - 6,891,070 (Supplemental Loan) Consists of improvements to the sludge management practices at the CCMUA treatment facility and the construction of an in-vessel composting system. |
| Mount Laurel Township. M.U.A. - $4,299,706 (Supplemental Loan) Includes the upgrade and expansion of the Hartford Road Pollution Control Facility, improvements to the sludge handling facilities, and the reconfiguration of the Rancocas Creek outfall. |
| Morris Township - $485,574 (Supplemental Loan) Includes a new collection system to transport wastewater to the Butterworth treatment facility in areas with on-site septic system failures. |
| Burlington Township - $8,763,000 Expansion and upgrade of the Central Avenue treatment facility from 1.65 million gallons per day (MGD) to 3.65 MGD and relocation of the effluent discharge from Tanners Run to the Delaware River. |
| Florence Township - $1,865,706 Consists of improvements to the sludge processing facilities, including the replacement of two floating covers, a heat exchanger, mixing systems, indicators, gas safety equipment, electrical equipment, recirculation pumps, and piping. |
| Washington Township MUA - $8,756,406 Includes construction of a sewage collection system and a 0.244 MGD treatment facility in the Long Valley Village area. |
| Morris Township - $2,677,936 Consists of the construction of a collection system in the Mendham Road/Delbarton Area which will sewer 106 existing lots in the Wood Road and Indian Head Road Areas. |
| Lavallette Borough - $1,583,920 Involves cleaning, inspecting and repairing trouble areas in the sanitary sewer system. Repairs include replacement of deteriorated sections of sewer, rehabilitation of manhole structures, and other measures. |
| Egg Harbor Township M.U.A. - $1,000,000 Consists of the construction of sanitary sewers in two areas of the Township. The Harborwood collection system involves approximately 16,695 of gravity sewers, one sewage pumping station, and approximately 8,350 linear feet of force main. The Elmwood project consists of approximately 12,510 linear feet of collection sewers and appurtenances. |
| Flemington Borough - $1,059,992 Consists of a sanitary sewer line replacement to stop raw sewage overflows on East Main Street and the relining of sewers in certain problem areas of the borough. |
| Passaic Valley SC - $30,300,000 Includes the upgrading of an oxygen dissolution system including gearboxes, aerators, switchgear, and instrumentation. |
| Jackson Township M.U.A. - $6,062,005 Consists of the construction of gravity sewers, force mains, and a pump station and the abandonment of the Great Adventures Park treatment plant. |
| Byram Township - $1,777,637 Includes the construction of 8,000 feet of gravity sewers, 4,000 feet of mains and four pumping stations to convey wastewater from the Consolidated School, the Intermediate School, the Byram Township Municipal Complex, and properties located within the Route 206 corridor. The wastewater will be treated at the Musconetcong Sewerage Authority. |
| Atlantic Highlands Borough - $876,692 Includes a gravity collection system to eliminate the use of existing failing septic systems and the rehabilitation of sewers having severe infiltration and inflow problems. |
| Elizabeth City - $3,200,000 Involves the removal of excessive infiltration/inflow in the existing sewer system, including cleaning and video inspection of 21,760 linear sewers, pressure testing 10,880 sewer joints, and chemical grouting approximately 8,160 joints. Also includes the repair and replacement of approximately 12,300 linear feet of sewers. |
| Millville City - $2,387,500 Consists of the replacement of sanitary sewers, replacement and rehabilitation of pump stations, and the upgrade and rerouting of sewer mains. Also includes the construction of collection systems to serve two areas in Millville. |
| Bellmawr Borough - $896,000 Includes the removal of the existing 8" diameter terra-cotta sewer and the construction of a new 10" diameter PVC sewer main. Precast manholes with watertight locking casting will also be provided to replace existing brick manholes. Also includes improvements to a pump station. |
| Somerdale Borough - $254,422 Includes the rehabilitation of a portion of the sewer system which traverses the area from the intersection of Hilltop and Park Avenues to the Park School. |
| Woodbury Heights Borough - $943,820 Involves the expansion of a sewage collection system into unsewered areas of the borough. Also included is the rehabilitation of existing sanitary sewers utilizing chemical grouting. |
| Mount Olive Township - $1,233,702 Includes a pump station, force main, and 8" gravity sewer to connect the high school and middle school to the Budd Lake collection system. |
| Chester Borough - $1,378,902 Includes improvements to the wastewater treatment plant including a polymer feed system, flow equalization pump replacement, clarification, and miscellaneous additions. Improvements to the disposal beds will include replacement of filter sand, a stone distribution system and distribution piping. |