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Infrastructure Financing Program Posts Record Year
Eighty-two projects have met the necessary requirements to receive low interest loans from the New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Financing Program in November. The projects, totaling almost $345 million, will make 2001 the largest financing year by the Program in 15 years, surpassing previous highs of fifty-four projects in 2000 and $240 million in 1987. The program also marked the largest ever Trust bond sale-$174,790,000-at it lowest ever interest rate-4.37 percent for the tax-exempt series. Combined with DEP's zero percent loan, the effective interest rate for 2001 municipal borrowers is less than 2.2 percent.
The projects, financed by the Program, will continue to improve drinking water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure throughout the state. They are critical to the overall goal of preserving the state's water resources and ensuring safe drinking water for future generations. Thirty-six of the projects target wastewater, stormwater and nonpoint source pollution by improving sewage treatment facilities, maintaining wastewater collection and conveyance systems and reducing pollution caused by stormwater runoff. An additional thirty-four projects will help municipalities and private water purveyors meet the requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act.
The remaining twelve projects will be for land acquisition and conservation. Maintaining open space has a positive effect on water quality. Headwaters, stream corridors, wetlands and aquifer recharge areas protect water quality when preserved in their natural state. Land projects, along with well sealing and remedial activities, are eligible for financing for the first time in 2001. Many communities have expressed interest in receiving loans for projects in the new program areas, particularly for land acquisition and conservation.
The Financing Program is a partnership between the DEP and the New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust that enables borrowers to receive the lowest possible rates on loans for infrastructure projects. By combining interest-free loans from DEP's State Revolving Funds with market rate loans from the sale of Trust bonds, the participants in the Financing Program are able to borrow money at half the rate the Trust pays on its AAA-rated bonds. Since 1987, the Financing Program has put over $1.9 billion to work removing pollutants from the state's waterways and protecting water supplies saving borrowers over $600 million in the process.
For more information on the loan program, contact Assistant Director Nicholas G. Binder, P.E., P.P., of the Municipal Finance and Construction Element, at (609) 292-8961. For more information on the New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust, contact Executive Director Dirk C. Hofman, P.E. at (609) 219-8600. Sponsors of drinking water projects should contact Phil Royer or Josephine Craver from the Bureau of Safe Drinking Water at (609) 292-5550.
The following lists the 82 projects that were certified by the Municipal Finance and Construction Element in August and September 2001 for low-interest loans through the Environmental Infrastructure Financing Program. Acting Governor DiFrancesco signed the appropriations bill on August 24, 2001 that allows the DEP and the Trust to proceed with the execution of loan agreements. The DEP, the Trust, and the project sponsors will close on the loans in November.
| CLEAN WATER |
Atlantic Co. UA
$2,025,086 | Light cleaning & lining of sewer lines and manholes for the purpose of reducing infiltration and inflow. |
Berkeley Heights Township
$2,000,000 | Multiple improvements and upgrades at the municipal Wastewater Pollution Control Plant and pumping stations. |
Brick Township MUA
$2,672,038 | Installation of new force main and rehabilitation of existing, deteriorated gravity mains at various locations in the township; rehabilitation of approximately 50 sanitary sewer manholes. |
City of Brigantine
$1,380,720 | Televised inspection of the sanitary sewer system, with spot repairs of inflow problems; purchase of a sewer cleaning machine. (2 projects) |
Burlington County Board of Chosen Freeholders
$14,699,742 | Capping of approximately 29 acres of Landfill No. 1; construction of part of Landfill No. 2, to consist of a geomembrane liner system, including leachate detection, collection and transportation system. (2 projects) |
City of Camden
$12,822,352 | Reconstruction and rehabilitation of approximately 32,000 feet of combined sewer, ranging in size from 8 inches to 48 inches, at various locations within the city. |
City of Camden
$4,653,327 | Phase 1 of this well sealing project involves the sealing and capping of approximately 60 abandoned wells at various locations within the city. |
City of Cape May
$473,348 | Replacement of 1,200 feet of sanitary sewer main and 35 sanitary sewer house connections along Kearney Avenue. |
Chesterfield Township
$4,484,002 | Extension of sewer service to 158 homes currently served by conventional septic systems. The project includes installation of more than 26,000 feet of variously sized sewer lines and two pump stations. |
Borough of Collingswood
$587,026 | Replacement of approximately 2,000 feet of aging terra cotta sewer line along Fern Avenue between Haddon Avenue and the border with Haddon Township. |
Cumberland County Utilities Authority
$2,000,000 | Upgrades, additions and repairs to the Cohansey River Basin Water Pollution Control Facility. |
City of Elizabeth
$6,169,792 | Combined sewer overflow abatement consisting of the construction of solids/floatables control facilities and/or sewer separation sites at the city's 19 combined sewer overflows. |
Franklin Township Sewerage Authority
$2,985,000 | Construction of a sanitary sewer system in the Sunset Hills/Griggstown area, consisting of 31,000 feet of gravity sewer, a pump station, 14,000 feet of force main and related appurtenances. |
City of Gloucester
$1,356,256 | Replacement of the Essex Street and Nicholson Road pump stations with upgraded, submersible pump stations. |
Gloucester County Utilities Authority
$4,518,766 | Upgrade or replacement of elements of the existing odor containment and capture system. |
Gloucester Township MUA
$2,191,000 | Rehabilitation of 24,000 feet of deteriorated gravity sewer line in Blackwood Manor, Blackwood Estates, Wilson Tract, Timber Lane and Glendora sections of the township; rehabilitation of the Cherrywood, Girard Avenue, College and Glen Oaks pumping stations. |
Hainesport Township
$13,753,000 | Construction of 14.6 miles of gravity sewers, two miles of force main, four pump stations and five grinder pump stations to serve nine separate neighborhoods of the township experiencing malfunctions and failures of existing individual septic systems. |
Borough of Hopatcong
$5,300,000 | Installation of 98,000 feet of gravity sewer line, 11,500 feet of force main, 340 grinder pumps and three pumping stations to replace individual onsite septic systems. |
Jersey City MUA
$15,820,000 | Combined sewer overflow abatement consisting of construction of 11 in-line and four end-of-pipe netting facilities and tide gates to capture solids and floatables, and rehabilitation of one combined sewer flow regulator. |
Borough of Keansburg
$282,844 | Stormwater management project consisting of underground piping, roadway regrading and installation of curbing and gutter to reduce nonpoint source pollution in Waackaack Creek. |
Lumberton Township
$2,124,606 | Stormwater management project consisting of the installation of 2,200 feet of stormwater piping ranging from 15-inch to 36-inch diameter, 13 manholes and 25 additional inlets with bicycle safe grates designed to reduce debris entering the stormwater system. |
City of Margate
$625,000 | Replacement of 2,600 feet of deteriorating terra cotta sewer pipe with new ductile iron pipe on East Drive and West Drive; also, replacement of 80 sewer house connections. |
Borough of Matawan
$2,800,000 | Two old interceptors will be abandoned, plugged and replaced with 1,500 feet of new line running parallel to the existing line. |
Middlesex County UA
$34,745,064 | Purchase and installation of single-pass thin film dryers, pasteurizer units and ancillary equipment for the processing of wastewater residuals into an agricultural liming agent and fertilizer for landfill cover. |
Borough of Oaklyn
$136,166 | Inspection, lining and sealing of the existing sanitary sewer mains and manholes to prevent infiltration and inflow problems. |
Ocean County UA
$10,709,374 | Construction of a new effluent pumping station to accommodate wet weather flow associated with the projected growth within the existing Central Service Area. |
Ocean Township SA
$7,871,800 | Multiple improvements in the treatment plant and collection system. |
Passaic Valley Water Commission
$7,731,320 | Upgrades to the residuals treatment and disposal system. |
Pemberton Township
$738,000 | Comprehensive nonpoint source pollution management project consisting of construction of a road salt storage building and related runoff control system, purchase of a catch basin jet pressure cleaner and purchase of a leaf collection vacuum machine. |
Pennsville Township
$1,799,000 | Construction of two new pump stations, modification of a third, installation of 4,000 feet of force main and construction and modification of detention basins. |
Village of Ridgewood
$16,944,000 | Upgrading of the existing wastewater treatment plant from secondary treatment to Level III treatment will include extensive renovation of facilities and replacement of all process equipment. |
Sussex County MUA
$6,180,026 | Construction of a new cell at the existing solid waste landfill and the procurement of equipment to transport leachate, maintain capped cells and conduct litter collection. |
Union Township
$188,660 | Purchase of a sewer cleaning truck to remove build-up and blockages from the existing sanitary sewer collection system and a camera to inspect lines for ground water infiltration. |
West Milford Township MUA
$1,061,228 | Correction of significant infiltration/inflow problems at the Awosting Sewage Treatment Plant to prevent discharge of untreated overflows into the Wanaque River. |
| DRINKING WATER |
Barnegat Township
$790,000 | Replacement of manually read water meters with new meters incorporating backflow preventers and remote sensors located on outside walls of dwellings. |
Bayview Water Co.
$1,549,000 | Replacement of 18,200 of existing water distribution pipes with new, 6-inch and 8-inch lines in the Fortescue Beach section of Downe Township. |
City of Brigantine
$147,394 | Cleaning and relining of 7,000 feet of water main, installation of blow-off hydrants at dead end water mains, cleaning and repainting of a water tower and installation of meters at municipal parks, buildings and grounds. |
Brick Twp. MUA
$17,893,626 | This project involves the installation of approximately 4.4 miles of 42-inch transmission mains that will be used to fill and empty a proposed 900 million gallon water storage reservoir. |
City of Camden
$4,812,562 | Replacement of 10 existing wells in the morris-delair well field which are outdated and not delivering water at their original design rates. |
City of Cape May
$260,950 | Replacement of 2,250 feet of deteriorated cast iron water pipe with 8-inch PVC water main along Kearney Avenue. |
City of Margate
$329,898 | Replacement of 2,700 feet of failing, 4-inch waterline with 8-inch pipe on East Drive and West Drive. |
Merchantville-Pennsauken Water Commission
$4,000,000 | Demolition of an old facility and construction of a new water treatment process control/ filter building, new pump building and related site modifications. |
Middlesex Water Co.
$4,700,000 | Cleaning and relining of 84,000 feet of cast iron water main, spot replacement of mains, hydrants, service lines and valves. (2 projects) |
Montclair Township
$1,413,640 | Rehabilitation of the Watchung Avenue Pump Station, including the replacement of all pumps, motors, electrical switch gear, instrumentation, metering and valves. |
New Jersey American Water Co.
$27,797,574 | Upgrades and improvements to the Swimming River Water Treatment Plant in Colts Neck Township to include the addition of ozonation facilities for disinfection, modifications to the chemical feed and storage facilities, improvements to clarifiers and filters, installation of a chlorine scrubber, process control and instrumentation upgrades and associated improvements. This project also includes the replacement of approximately 36,750 residential and business water meters in various municipalities in 16 counties. (15 projects) |
Parsippany-Troy Hills Township
$508,078 | Upgrading of the Farney Road booster station from 700 gallons per minute to 1,300 gallons per minute, and of the South Powdermill booster station from 500 gallons per minute to 800 gallons per minute. |
Passaic Valley Water Commission
$60,605,200 | Upgrading of the Little Falls Water Treatment Plant to achieve compliance with current drinking water quality regulations. The extensive upgrade will include replacement of the flocculation/sedimentation process, new ozone generators and ozone contractors, rehabilitation of the existing chemical storage and feed systems and numerous other improvements. |
Pennsgrove Water Supply Co.
$573,790 | Replace 8,600 feet of old, unlined cast iron water mains to improve pressure and reduce rusty water complaints in Oldmans and Carneys Point townships and the borough of Penns Grove. |
Waterford Township MUA
$2,890,000 | Construction of a half-million-gallon elevated water storage tank and the construction of 13,000 feet of new water mains in area of Jackson Road, the Pennsylvania Reading Seashore Line, Copper Road, State Street, Anderson Avenue, Cedar Avenue, Central Avenue, Gibbons Court and Trout Drive. (2 projects) |
Wonder Lake Properties
$140,920 | Construction of a 10,000-gallon, pre-cast concrete water storage tank. |
City of Woodbury
$3,025,776 | Installation of two 500,000 gallon elevated finished water storage tanks to replace a 110-year-old reservoir and replacement of 1,000 feet of deteriorated cast iron water mains. |
Borough of Watchung
$452,474 | Replacement of deteriorated water mains. |
| OPEN SPACE ACQUISITION |
Allamuchy Township
$2,283,000 | Acquisition of three parcels totaling approximately 355 acres, all part of the Pequest River watershed. |
Brick Township
$2,637,724 | Acquisition of two parcels totaling about 87 acres, protecting the headwaters and stream corridor of Beaver Dam Creek, which drains to Barnegat Bay. |
Bridgewater Township
$1,082,972 | Acquisition of about 30 acres protecting drainage to Chambers Brook and the Raritan River watershed. |
Borough of Edgewater
$262,020 | Acquisition of a 3.3-acre tract of steeply sloped woodlands along the Palisades. |
Evesham Township
$2,626,500 | Acquisition of a 691-acre parcel, including woods, wetlands, abandoned cranberry bogs and farmland. |
Holmdel Township
$2,830,526 | The township, in partnership with Green Acres, Monmouth County and the Monmouth Conservancy, is acquiring a 417-acre parcel that is the largest undeveloped property in the township. The Financing Program loan will finance the purchase of 1.5 miles of stream corridor along Ramanessin Brook, which drains to the Swimming River. |
County of Mercer
$430,698 | Acquisition of two parcels totaling about 84 acres, including land located in the Bear Brook Greenway, adjacent to the Hamilton Marsh. The properties drain to the Delaware River. |
Montville Township
$235,986 | Acquisition of one parcel totaling about 5.6 acres including woodlands and wetlands draining to the Passaic River. |
Readington Township
$1,303,144 | Acquisition of a 47-acre parcel of agricultural fields and woodlands that border the two main tributaries of the Holland Brook. |
Roxbury Township
$765,290 | Acquisition of a 24-acre parcel which drains to Flanders Brook and the South Branch of the Raritan River. |
Washington Township
$1,390,000 | acquisition of approximately 109 acres located in the Assunpink Watershed Area. |
West Windsor Township
$3,349,968 | Acquisition of a 202-acre parcel of mixed forest, shrubby areas and farm fields draining to Duck Pond Run and the Little Bear Brook. |
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