By Jennifer Ortiz
Staff Writer
HOWELL – New Jersey American Water has received approval from the Planning Board to expand its Oak Glen regional water treatment plant at 200 Squankum-Yellowbrook Road, Howell.
“It is a regional treatment plant that supplies drinking water and water for domestic use to Howell, Lakewood and other parts of Ocean County,” said attorney Niall J. O’Brien, who represents the company.
O’Brien said the treatment plant will be expanded in order to facilitate an increase in its capacity from 10 million gallons a day to 15 million gallons a day.
“There are two reasons for this (project), folks use more water in the summer and there is more development,” O’Brien said.
The applicant will construct a 9,655-square-foot building addition with treatment equipment on the east side of the existing building, install an additional pump unit in the existing pump station; construct an additional above-ground clarification tank south of the existing tanks, install an emergency back-up generator and construct a pole barn for maintenance equipment storage.
Speaking at a recent Planning Board meeting, engineer Eileen Feldman, who represents the water company, said water supply demands are highest between June and August. During those months the plant is permitted to treat up to 15 million gallons of water per day.
Feldman said the treatment plant is between the Manasquan Reservoir in Howell and the Manasquan River Pump Station in Wall Township. She said the plant takes river water and treats it so that it becomes drinking water.
Trees will be removed at the site of the treatment plant to accommodate the expansion project. O’Brien said New Jersey American Water will make a $29,700 payment to Howell’s tree fund so trees can be planted at other locations in the municipality.
Feldman said certain features of site will not allow for new trees to be planted at that location.
The applicant will install a generator that will ensure the expanded plant remains operational in the event of a power outage.
“We will comply with New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection sound limits and air quality limits. The diesel generator will be in a sound enclosure and have a fuel containment system as well,” Feldman said.
The treatment plant operates 24 hours a day, Feldman said, adding that the plant is manned by a maximum of 16 people working at the location.
“More (water treatment) capacity does not mean more employees … a lot of the operation happens in a control room where someone is watching panels to make sure nothing is going wrong,” she said.
Feldman said the plant will continue to operate within guidelines established by the Manasquan River Regional Sewerage Authority and the Ocean County Utilities Authority.
Engineer Charles J. Witczak III, representing the applicant, said the variances requested by New Jersey American Water are satisfied in positive criteria relative to the land use law.
“As you have heard, the water supply will be upgraded at the Oak Glen plant in order to meet the increased demand. The regional supply will be enhanced in order to reduce the potential for water shortages and increase the ability for firefighting and medical services throughout the area,” Witczak said.
No one from the public commented on the company’s application to expand the treatment plant.
Board Chairman Paul Schneider, Vice Chairman Robert Nash and board members George Gravatt, Thomas O’Donnell, Kenneth French, Arthur Fankhauser, Thomas Russo, Mayor Bill Gotto and Deputy Mayor Robert Nicastro voted to approve the New Jersey American Water application.