Sussex Borough approves $195K to move water inlet

WANTAGE — In order to satisfy the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's time constraints, the Borough Council unanimously authorized, on Tuesday, Feb. 2, a $195,950 contract to relocate an inlet to Houser Engineering.

The goal is to prevent high turbidity water from entering the treatment plant after rain events.

The council also unanimously authorized Gerald Gardner to discuss all high turbidity water options with the DEP on Feb. 10., including surface water and groundwater wells.

No contract will take effect until the DEP agrees with a particular solution.

During the meeting, Adam G. Stern of Natural System Utilities, also representing John Maione, explained the benefits of two extremely high capacity ground water wells south of the borough. He said there appears to be enough quality water for the borough from a natural, local, secure source.

Councilman Frank Dykstra asked about the certified output of the wells, because the Borough needs 350 gallons per minute from two wells.

After discussion, Stern explained they can extrapolate yields based on past water tests. Extensive capacity tests are expensive and could be pursued when worthwhile in the future.

Councilwoman Linda Masson asked Gardner, if time were not a problem, whether he would prefer surface or groundwater.

Gardner said groundwater is always better. He also said that due to design and permit requirements, they would have to convince the DEP to give them an extra year if groundwater was pursued. He also said there was no guarantee they could get the water allocation, because ground water belongs to the state.

Dykstra and Masson expressed concerns about the existing quality of the borough water and public safety.

Dykstra wanted Gardner to look at the wells as a second option. He then reviewed with Gardner the state of the borough: two bad dams, a failing sewer from here to the pipe, and a water plant that is falling apart. He added there were problems with the plant from the day it went online.

Masson also said there was a lawsuit, but the outcome is unknown.

In addition, Dykstra wanted the record to show that able engineers had told the council to go the groundwater route in the past. He also told Masson he would talk to her more about it off-line; and a couple of test wells had been done in the past.