New Jersey American Water broke ground on April 12, 2017, on a $65 million flood protection project at its Raritan-Millstone Water Treatment Plant in Bridgewater.
BRIDGEWATER - New Jersey American Water broke ground Wednesday on a $65 million flood protection project at its Raritan-Millstone Water Treatment Plant.
The work will raise the current flood wall and berms to provide flood protection from 500-year flooding events, according to a news release. The project is expected to be completed by December of 2018.
"Providing clean, safe, reliable water service is a responsibility we take seriously, not just for our 2.7 million customers in New Jersey, but also for millions of others in the state who rely on us during an emergency," said Robert MacLean, president of New Jersey American Water and senior vice president of the Eastern Division of American Water. "By fortifying the resiliency of this critical infrastructure, we ensure a sustainable water supply for more than 1 million people who rely on this every day, as well as maintain our ability to help supply the cities of Newark and Trenton if needed during an emergency."
The plant is New Jersey American Water's largest water production facility, it was stated in the release, producing some 92 million gallons a day. It can produce 155 million gallons per day at maximum capacity.
N.J. water company to begin flood protection project
The plant, located near the confluence of the Raritan and Millstone rivers, is in an area of Somerset County that experiences flooding, according to the news release.
It was impacted by flood waters following Hurricane Irene in 2011.
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/08/new_jersey_american_water_asks.html
The existing earthen berms and north side reinforced concrete flood wall surrounding the plant are designed to provide flood protection for a 100-year flood event, it was stated. The system of flood protection has been tested three times in recent years where peak flood water levels were recorded within inches from the top of the berm and wall.
Water from the plant is also provided to five large bulk water sales connections, and two Critical Regional Emergency Interconnections serving Newark and Trenton.
The majority of the $38 million cost of raising the north flood wall, approximately $27.2 million, is being funded through low-interest financing from New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust in partnership with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, according to the New Jersey American Water.
In addition to raising the plant's north flood wall by 4 feet, the project also includes raising and widening the northeast berms, installing new flood gates, improving drainage mechanisms, installing a new low lift pump station and replacing emergency generators.
AECOM and Gannett-Fleming did the project's design engineering and KC Construction and Allied Construction Group are contracted to do the construction work.
New Jersey American Water, a subsidiary of American Water, is the largest investor-owned water utility in the state. American Water serves 15 million people in 47 states and Ontario, Canada.