By Charley Falkenburg, Staff Writer
MONTGOMERY The township could be closing its Oxbridge and Riverside wastewater treatment plants to save $2 million a year, based on the recent findings a consultants study.
The study was conducted as part of Montgomery’s efforts to find cost-effective ways to bring its aging wastewater plants up to date. While the town has chosen to upgrade and modernize the Skillman and Pike Brook plants, it has decided to consolidate others to avoid additional significant repair and improvement costs.
The consultant, Omni Environmental of Princeton, originally found that consolidating the Oxbridge plant into the Pike Brook plant would yield a savings of approximately $85,000 a year.
As the Burnt Hill School and High School plants are already scheduled for consolidation into the Skillman plant after the Westwinds Farms Pump Station is built, the remaining six plants are being considered for further consolidation: Pike Brook, Skillman Village, Stage II, Oxbridge, Cherry Valley and Riverside.
Jim Cosgrove of Omni Environmental presented the township with reports of their findings on June 21. The latest report found the town would benefit the most by saving $2 million a year by consolidating Oxbridge and Riverside to the Pike Brook plant with the lots west of the Oxbridge plant being assigned to the Skillman Village plant.
To implement the consolidation, the report estimated it would cost a total of $7.8 million. The money would fund: an amendment to the township chapter of the Somerset County Wastewater Management Plan, an anti-degradation study to evaluate the impact of a Pike Brook flow rate and the design, permitting and construction of new pumping stations and force mains.
It would also fund the possible expansion of the Pike Brook plant to accommodate the build out from the Oxbridge service area, an additional Pike Brook plant study and demolition costs for the out of service plant areas.
Omni Environmental also identified possible routes along roadways and existing parks to place the force mains. This would help the town avoid having to buy land or obtain easements.
The report said if the town chose not to go through with any consolidation, the Oxbridge, Riverside, Cherry Valley and Stage II plants would need necessary improvements and upgrades to keep operating. This would include mechanical and electrical system upgrades, plant expansion, improvements and necessary repairs.
Omni Environmental estimated the cost of improvements for Oxbridge, Riverside, Cherry Valley and Stage II would be $3.4 million, $3.8 million, $4.6 million and $8.3 million respectively.
The Township Committee said they would go over all the information and most likely invite Mr. Cosgrove back to go over the findings and answer questions.

