JTMUA planning system upgrades
Public hearing scheduled for 10 a.m. June 8 in Jackson
BY MARK ROSMAN
Staff Writer

The Jackson Township Municipal Utilities Authority (JTMUA) is proposing two projects that will allow it to continue to meet the needs of its customer base.

A public hearing has been scheduled for 10 a.m. June 8 at the JTMUA offices at 135 Manhattan St., Jackson. At that time any member of the public may offer comments about the projects being proposed.

According to David Harpell, executive director of the JTMUA, the authority is proposing to build a new water treatment plant on Manhattan Street near London Drive. The new treatment plant would include some office space and would replace the 30-year-old Manhattan Street water treatment plant that Harpell called "antiquated."

The proposed treatment plant would be a duplicate of the JTMUA's water treatment plant on Hyson Road. The Hyson Road facility was upgraded in 2006, Harpell said.

The purpose of a treatment plant is to take ground water that is drawn from wells and to treat the water before it is sent out into the JTMUA system. The treatment primarily consists of removing iron and manganese from the water, Harpell explained. The wells are supplied by an aquifer.

In conjunction with the construction of the new water treatment plant on Manhattan Street, the JTMUA is proposing to construct a test well No. 17 within the new water treatment facility site. The test well will be used to determine a design and construction of a backup supply well for well No. 8 and well No. 9 currently in use, according to a legal notice published in a daily newspaper by the JTMUA.

The authority is also proposing to build a one million gallon elevated water storage tank near the intersection of North Hope Chapel Road and East Veterans Highway. The proposed site for the new storage tank is near Jackson Liberty High School, according to Harpell.

According to the JTMUA's legal notice, the elevated storage tank is necessary due to the growth that has occurred in the southeast quadrant of Jackson, including Jackson Liberty High School. The elevated tank will provide improved water pressure, a substantial increase in elevated storage and improved fire protection in this region of Jackson, according to the authority.

The proposed cost of all the construction projects is $12 million, to be financed by 20-year bonds issued through the New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust. Harpell said he expects the work to be completed for less than $12 million.

JTMUA administrators are in the process of determining what, if any, impact the construction projects will have on its customer rates. The authority will not have a rate increase in 2007, he said.

The tentative schedule calls for the completion of all work in September 2009.

The construction projects are expected to include a negotiated shared services agreement between the JTMUA and the Jackson Board of Education. Harpell said the agreement will call for the school board to give property to the JTMUA for the new water treatment plant and storage tank and for the JTMUA to waive connection fees so that existing schools can be hooked up to the public water system.

The JTMUA provides water service to about 10,000 business and residential customers and sewer service to about 8,500 business and residential customers primarily on the east side of Jackson, Harpell said.