New Jersey signs legislation to protect largest water treatment plant

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has signed new legislation that authorises state financing of $31.5m to raise the floodwall of the largest water treatment plant belonging to New Jersey American Water.

On the basis of the legislation, an independent state financing agency, New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust (NJEIT), has partnered with the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to provide the low-cost loan to New Jersey American Water, along with other beneficiaries.

The largest investor-owned water utility, headquartered in Voorhees, New Jersey, serves seven counties with more than one million residents and supplies water to five public water systems, as well as being the emergency water source for Trenton and Newark.

The $1.28bn bill aims at bringing vital development across the state in terms of drinking water and wastewater infrastructure projects.

During its destructive tour, Hurricane Irene almost breached the treatment plant’s floodwall, which would have cost the region a loss of $1.8bn.

Governor Christie stated: "There can be no compromises in protecting the viability, integrity and resiliency of the state’s water supply and wastewater systems, especially in areas that are vulnerable to floods."

New Jersey American Water president William M. Varley said: "Raising the floodwall at our Raritan Millstone Water Treatment Plant by four feet is a multi-million dollar undertaking and we are grateful for the assistance of both NJEIT and New Jersey DEP."

NJEIT executive director David Zimmer said: "We are proud to be playing a major part in the recovery of New Jersey from the devastation of Superstorm Sandy.

"All of these projects, whether directly Sandy-related or not, are critically important to our local communities and will provide thousands of construction jobs in our state."

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